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Exploration of Mencius’ Motivation Theory of “Benevolence and Righteousness” Based on the Existence of Human Meaning

Received: 17 April 2023     Accepted: 17 May 2023     Published: 29 May 2023
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Abstract

This paper abandons the usual thinking pattern of “arguing between righteousness and profit” under the study of Mencius’ general level of good of “benevolence and righteousness”, attempts to take the path of “motivation”, which is less concerned by the academic circle, from the first chapter of Mencius with “benevolence and justice” to show the tension of argumentation brought by the propositions within it, according to the times, Confucian thinking mode and the general review of foreign motivation theory and so on, and briefly responds to the disadvantages of the opposition of “motivation theory and effect theory”. Based on the existence of human meaning, this paper redefines the connotation and direction of Mencius’ “benevolence and righteousness” in motivation theory, and holds that Mencius’ “benevolence and righteousness” motivation theory is the transcendence of moral ideals or values over moral argumentation. Mencius put the moral motivation of Confucianism above the external utilitarian demand, which is the internal reflection of Mencius’ basic thought of “good human nature”. This motivation can be regarded as the high recognition and expectation of the existence in human nature on the basis of the Confucian concept of virtue. Therefore, we can say with certainty that Mencius’ “motivation theory” has a value of guiding people to “follow the good”.

Published in Humanities and Social Sciences (Volume 11, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.hss.20231103.11
Page(s) 70-74
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Mencius, Motivation Theory, “Benevolence and Righteousness”, Comprehensive Implication

References
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[2] Chen Lai, Bamboo and Silk “Five Elements” and Bamboo and Silk Research, (Beijing: Sanlian Bookstore, 2009).
[3] Mou Chung-san, Theory of Perfect Good, (Taipei: Lianjing Publishing Co., Ltd., 1985).
[4] Xu Qianxue (Qing), Postscript of Zi Zhi Tong Jian, Vol. 70, (Photocopy of Imperial Siku Quanshu), p. 17.
[5] Sima Qian (Han), Records of the Historian, (Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company, 1959), p. 2343.
[6] Zhu Yiting, A Dictionary of Ethics, (Shanghai: Shanghai Dictionary Press, 2002), p. 12.
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[8] Confucius (Chunqiu) et al, Analects of Confucius, the Great Learning and the Doctrine of the Mean, trans. by Gu Hongming, (Beijing: Beijing University of Technology Press, 2017).
[9] Zhu Xi (Song), Notes to the Analects of Confucius, Vol. 8, edited by Guo Wanjin, (Beijing: Commercial Press, 2015), p. 246.
[10] Mozi (Zhanguo), Mozi, trans. and noted by Fang Yong, (Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company, 2022).
[11] Xunzi (Zhanguo), Xunzi, trans. and noted by Fang Yong, Li Bo, (Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company, 2011).
[12] Wang Anshi (Song), Linchuan Gentleman Anthology, (Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company, 1959), p. 773.
[13] Cheng Hao (Song), Cheng Yi (Song), The Anthology of Two-Cheng, Vol. 11, commented by Wang Xiaoyu, (Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company, 1981), p. 124.
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[16] Huang Zongxi (Qing), Learning Note of Song and Yuan Dynasties, Vol. 56, (Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company, 1986), p. 1850.
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[18] Ye Shi (Song), Xixue Jiyan, Vol. 23, (Shanghai: Shanghai Ancient Books Press, 1992), p. 201.
[19] Li Zhi (Ming), Collected works of Li Zhi, Vol. 32, edited by Zhang Jianye, (Beijing: Social Science Literature Press, 2000), p. 626.
[20] David Hume (Britain), Theory of Human Nature, trans. by Guan Wenyun, (Beijing: Commercial Press, 2013), p. 508.
[21] David Hume (Britain), Theory of Human Nature, trans. by Guan Wenyun, (Beijing: Commercial Press, 2013), p. 348.
[22] Samuel Enoch Stumpf (America), James Fieser (America), History of Western Philosophy, trans. by Deng Xiaomang, (Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company, 2005), p. 443.
[23] Immanuel Kant (Germany), Complete Works of Kant, Vol. 5, trans. by Li Qiuling, (Beijing: China Renmin University Press, 2006), p. 53.
[24] Samuel Enoch Stumpf (America), James Fieser (America), History of Western Philosophy, trans. by DengXiaomang, (Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company, 2005), p. 445.
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[26] Dobin CHOI (Korea), Moral Artisanship in Mengzi 6A7, Dao: A Journal of Comparative Philosophy, 17 (2018): 331-348.
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    Yuhu Sun. (2023). Exploration of Mencius’ Motivation Theory of “Benevolence and Righteousness” Based on the Existence of Human Meaning. Humanities and Social Sciences, 11(3), 70-74. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20231103.11

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    Yuhu Sun. Exploration of Mencius’ Motivation Theory of “Benevolence and Righteousness” Based on the Existence of Human Meaning. Humanit. Soc. Sci. 2023, 11(3), 70-74. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20231103.11

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    AMA Style

    Yuhu Sun. Exploration of Mencius’ Motivation Theory of “Benevolence and Righteousness” Based on the Existence of Human Meaning. Humanit Soc Sci. 2023;11(3):70-74. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20231103.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.hss.20231103.11,
      author = {Yuhu Sun},
      title = {Exploration of Mencius’ Motivation Theory of “Benevolence and Righteousness” Based on the Existence of Human Meaning},
      journal = {Humanities and Social Sciences},
      volume = {11},
      number = {3},
      pages = {70-74},
      doi = {10.11648/j.hss.20231103.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20231103.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.hss.20231103.11},
      abstract = {This paper abandons the usual thinking pattern of “arguing between righteousness and profit” under the study of Mencius’ general level of good of “benevolence and righteousness”, attempts to take the path of “motivation”, which is less concerned by the academic circle, from the first chapter of Mencius with “benevolence and justice” to show the tension of argumentation brought by the propositions within it, according to the times, Confucian thinking mode and the general review of foreign motivation theory and so on, and briefly responds to the disadvantages of the opposition of “motivation theory and effect theory”. Based on the existence of human meaning, this paper redefines the connotation and direction of Mencius’ “benevolence and righteousness” in motivation theory, and holds that Mencius’ “benevolence and righteousness” motivation theory is the transcendence of moral ideals or values over moral argumentation. Mencius put the moral motivation of Confucianism above the external utilitarian demand, which is the internal reflection of Mencius’ basic thought of “good human nature”. This motivation can be regarded as the high recognition and expectation of the existence in human nature on the basis of the Confucian concept of virtue. Therefore, we can say with certainty that Mencius’ “motivation theory” has a value of guiding people to “follow the good”.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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    AB  - This paper abandons the usual thinking pattern of “arguing between righteousness and profit” under the study of Mencius’ general level of good of “benevolence and righteousness”, attempts to take the path of “motivation”, which is less concerned by the academic circle, from the first chapter of Mencius with “benevolence and justice” to show the tension of argumentation brought by the propositions within it, according to the times, Confucian thinking mode and the general review of foreign motivation theory and so on, and briefly responds to the disadvantages of the opposition of “motivation theory and effect theory”. Based on the existence of human meaning, this paper redefines the connotation and direction of Mencius’ “benevolence and righteousness” in motivation theory, and holds that Mencius’ “benevolence and righteousness” motivation theory is the transcendence of moral ideals or values over moral argumentation. Mencius put the moral motivation of Confucianism above the external utilitarian demand, which is the internal reflection of Mencius’ basic thought of “good human nature”. This motivation can be regarded as the high recognition and expectation of the existence in human nature on the basis of the Confucian concept of virtue. Therefore, we can say with certainty that Mencius’ “motivation theory” has a value of guiding people to “follow the good”.
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Author Information
  • Department of Philosophy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

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