A Study of the Inequities in Dong Zhong Shu's Theory of Human Nature

• Main Authors: Lin,Wanchen, 林宛珍
• Other Authors: Liu,Chengwei
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2011
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/52403242263353185979

碩士 === 華梵大學 === 東方人文思想研究所 === 99 === Abstract Human nature has been one of the major topics in traditional Chinese philosophy. Since Pre-Chin , the scholars have had different viewpoints about it from each other, however, they still agree that humans should have common human nature. Besides Pre-Chin,，the Han Confucians also have considerable viewpoints about human nature. They not only develop the tradition of Pre-Chin, but also make some transformations to cater to the political need at that time. Dong Zhong Shu is an important figure in its development. Dong Zhong Shu ascribes the origin of moral abilities to the Heaven and defines human nature as “the inborn disposition of human beings given by nature or heaven"，so it is innate . But he never says whether or not human nature is good. The goodness of humanity is acquired by cultivation, and the cultivation comes from teachings of sage kings. Dong Zhong Shu, furthermore, divides human nature into three ranks as superior, ordinary and inferior ; they represent sages , ordinary people and villains respectively. Sages’ human nature is originally good and villains’ is originally evil. Thus, their human nature can not be changed. Only ordinary people’s human nature can be changed through education. Moreover, according to Dong Zhong Shu’s “three examinations discuss about heaven and man”（Tian Ren San Tseh）, just like sages, kings receive the destiny from Heaven and take enlightening ordinary people as their own duty，so they are certainly superior to anyone else. On the contrary, those who are defined as villains can not be taught to be good. This not only violates the idea which teaches all comers without discrimination but also proves that Dong Zhong Shu uses his theory to deify political order and the political morals. Although Dong Zhong Shu’s theory of human nature is something that complies with the development of history, it casts an unequal shadow on human nature and transforms Confucianism into an unequal social relationship between people. This thesis aims at analyzing the motive , purpose, content and the pros and cons in Dong Zhong Shu’s theory of human nature. Keywords：Dong Zhong Shu, Theory of Human Nature, Three Examinations Discuss about Heaven and Man（Tian Ren San Tseh）