Mencius and Xunzi on Xing (Human Nature)

Abstract This article introduces and analyses the debate between Mencius and Xunzi on xing 性 (human nature). While Mencius claims that xing is good, Xunzi claims that xing is bad. A common way of interpreting these two different claims is to determine the scope of xing . It is generally agreed that, for Mencius, it is the heart/mind that falls within the scope of xing , for Xunzi, the sensory desires. This article also explores a different way of approaching Mencius's and Xunzi's different claims about xing . It is suggested that Mencius's and Xunzi's different views on xing can be understood in terms of their different views on the heart/mind ( xin 心). While Mencius thinks that the heart/mind has a morally good natural tendency, Xunzi thinks that the heart/mind has a morally problematic tendency.