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This view on human nature was first proposed by Mencius. As Mencius（372？-289 BC） saw it, human nature is the inherent moral character which a human being naturally possesses and which distinguishes him from an animal. In this sense, human nature underpins such virtues as benevolence, righteousness, sound social norms, and good judgment. However, good human nature does not automatically constitute virtuous conduct. People need to continuously cultivate good human nature in order to develop virtuous conduct.
Xing (性) mainly referred to human nature in ancient times. The concept of xing has two essential points. First, it refers to the inherent nature of all things, not as a result of nurture. Second, it refers to the common nature of certain kind of things, not the nature of individual things of that kind. Similarly, human nature, too, has two meanings. First, it refers to inherent attributes all people share, including physical features, desires, and consciousness. Second, it is the essential and distinct attribute that distinguishes people from birds and beasts, in other words, human’s moral nature. Scholars throughout history held varied views over the question whether human nature was good or evil. Some believed it was good. Some thought it was evil. Some held that it was neither good nor evil. Some held that human nature could be both good and evil in the same person. Some thought that human nature was good in some people, but evil in others.
This view was proposed by Xunzi（313？-238 BC）. According to him, human nature, which refers to proprieties humans naturally possess, includes physical life as well as various desires and perceptions. If people are allowed to only follow desire for external things, which is something inherent in human nature, it will lead to conflicts, and the society will fall into chaos. Moral conduct which is vital for maintaining order in society does not derive from human nature. Rather, it is acquired through deliberate efforts.
Human nature is a mixture of good and evil. This is a view of human nature held by ancient Chinese people. According to this theory, human nature can neither be all good nor all evil, but instead good and evil co-exist within us. Being good or evil is the result of cultivation after one’s birth. Therefore, according to this theory, the key to being a person of virtue lies in learning and education.
Human nature has nothing to do with good or evil, which is a view held by ancient Chinese people. The philosopher Gaozi in the Warring States Period was one of the advocates of this “neither good nor evil” theory. Here, human nature refers to the in-born attributes of a human being. According to Gaozi, a person’s inherent desires directed to the outside world reflects no more than physical needs, such as the need for food and for sex. Such instincts are irrelevant to ethics, free of good or evil. A person’s good or evil traits result from cultivation and social influence in life after birth. People who are exposed to good influences tend to do good things. People who live in a bad environment tend to do bad things.
This term means changing element of evil in one’s intrinsic nature and developing acquired nature of goodness. This ethical principle is put forward by Xunzi （313？-238 BC）based on his belief that human nature is evil. Xunzi believes that the desire for external things is an intrinsic part of human nature. Unrestrained pursuit of such desire leads to rivalry between people and throws society into chaos. Therefore, it is imperative to rein in human desire and make people accept and observe rites and laws.
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