Mencius (1)

Mencius, the tag-along philosopher to Confucius, takes center stage in the "Mencius," where he recounts his sassy dialogues with kings, dukes, and anyone else willing to join his ancient philosophical party. From Confucius's theories of jen (goodness) and yi (righteousness) to Mencius's own spin on achieving harmony with mankind and the universe, it's like a self-help book for ancient souls. With views on subjects, rulers, and the evils of war, Mencius creates a Confucian orthodoxy that's show more been intact since the third century BCE.

Pros: show less

A worthwhile read for those interested in Chinese philosophy, but read Confucius first, preferably in more than one translation. Mencius is easy enough to read in Lau's translation, despite a few ambiguities here and there, and he pretty much reinforces, sometimes with explanation, Confucius's teachings. Lau's introduction, comparing Mencius to other schools of thought, is good. His appendices, however, are too academic to be of much interest to the average reader. Overall, I certainly show more enjoyed Confucius and Lao Tzu more than Mencius, perhaps because there wasn't a lot new here, although some of the stories are good and there is even the occasional humor. show less

Meng Ke, whom we know in the West by his Latinized name, Mencius, was a wandering sage who taught widely and advised the rulers of the state of Qi during the Warring States Period (403-221 BC). Mencius himself lived from about 370-290 BC, having been born just a few miles from the only other philosopher know in the West by a latinized name, Confucius, who lived about a century before Mencius. Towards the end of his life Mencius despaired at the possibility of effecting change in government show more and so retired from public life.

The basis of Mencius’s philosophy is the assertion that all humans are basically good. It is society’s influence that causes good people to do bad things. This immediately raises a question: What is society composed of if not people? The answer is nowhere specific, but the cumulative impression is that the reason society can be a bad influence on individuals is habit. The analogy in Western logic might be the concept of “the slippery slope.” One person slips from his moral obligation toward the good and soon everyone around him is, too. Or, to put this idea another way: One dog barks and they all join in.

It’s hard work to be a good person: “Slight is the difference between man and the brutes,” Mencius says. “The common man loses this distinguishing feature, while the gentleman retains it.” To the modern reader the category of “common man” and “gentleman” may be somewhat offensive, but the classist distinction is historically accurate. More importantly, though, the difference might be better described as that between a “bad” man (“the brute”) and a “good” man (“the gentleman”).The book ascribed to Mencius, and which bears his name as its title, makes for wonderful reading as it is composed of philosophical vignettes, each related as a tiny story, usually about an encounter and conversation with a king or other nobleman. Here’s a sample:

After seeing King Xiang of Liang, Mencius said to someone, “When I saw him from a distance he did not look like a ruler, and when I got closer, I saw nothing to command respect. But he asked ‘How can the realm be settled?’ I answered, ‘It can be settled through unity.’ ‘Who can unify it?’ he asked. I answered, ‘Someone not fond of killing people.’ ‘Who could give it to him?’ I answered ‘Everyone in the world will give it to him. Your .Majesty knows what rice plants are? If there is a drought in the seventh and eighth months, the plants wither, but if moisture collects in the sky and forms clouds and rain falls in torrents, plants suddenly revive. This is the way it is; no one can stop the process. In the world today there are no rulers disinclined toward killing. If there were a ruler who did not like to kill people, everyone in the world would crane their necks to catch sight of him. This is really true. The people would flow toward him the way water flows down. No one would be able to repress them.’”

Mencius employs both the parable and the Socratic method (the question-and-answer exploration of an ethical or political problem) to great effect. His bite-sized morsels are easy to read but provide much nourishment for thought. There are many parallels to Western philosophy to be found in Mencius (such as the idea that the people may overthrow a corrupt government, something Americans should more frequently remember is enshrined in their Constitution) as well as striking parallels. Chinese philosophy in general, for instance, was never particularly burdened with the great logical indignity of dualism (the idea that the mind or soul and the body are two separate entities).

Lau’s fluid translation (first published by Penguin in 1970 and presented here in a revised version edited in collaboration with scholars at the Chinese University) is complimented by an appropriately windy and academic introduction in which he thoroughly situates Mencius within the context of Chinese philosophy and draws the big picture that is the Confucian-Mencian system.

[Originally published in Curled Up with a Good Book] show less

Mencius, um sábio duas gerações após Confúcio, tem aqui seus pensamentos relatados, mas apesar do interesse em algumas de suas posições, o todo chafurda na grande quantidade de anedotas mencionando personagens da China antiga, sem desenvolvimento, e que resultam muitas vezes em conselhos práticos ou de conduta, sem maiores pensamentos do que uma ética que valoriza muito a família, a reverência aos mortos e os rituais funéreos e a tradição, usando a retórica dos "bons tempos". show more Pontos de interesse: o ser humano teria em si como característica fundamental o humanismo, um caráter bom e de respeito para com os outros, que só precisa ser cultivado, e especialmente o governo deve governar dando exemplo. Os reis que o fazem, governando para o povo, só se beneficiariam com isso, adquirindo prosperidade. De fato, se o rei mostrar seu bom caráter, inspirará o povo a segui-lo nesse bom aspecto (cultivar a música, ser diligente etc), de modo que seguirão bons tempos. A virtude faria, afinal o povo submeter do fundo de seus corações, com alegria, ao governo, e tudo ficaria bem sob os céus. show less