From Assumed Malice to Fundamental Neutrality: Reassessing Xunzi’s Perspective on Human Nature and its Educational Implications

Abstract

This paper aims at doing a philosophical interpretation of Xunzi, a  Confucianist philosopher of the Warring States period with a bias towards the theory of human nature. Traditional scholars have emphasized that this Master Xunzi advocated that human nature is evil At the same time, there is the new scholarly opinion such as the ‘Xing Pu’ or ‘Simple Nature’ Theory. According to the present work, Xunzi had a relative view towards the human nature; there was no noticeable bias in the view that the human nature is evil. This paper aims at testing the Confucian understanding of innate wickedness through textual and philological analysis of the critical terms like ‘jin’(now) and ‘shunshi’(following along with...). The understanding is shed light upon, which indicates that perceptions that Xunzi referred to as ‘emotions,’ ‘desires,’ and ‘xing e’( inherent evil) is not the essence of human nature but certainly externalities that are secondary in nature. This reevaluation not only enriches the ongoing academic discourse but also highlights the contemporary relevance of Xunzi’s educational strategies in promoting ethical behavior and societal harmony. By elucidating how Xunzi’s insights into human nature can inform and enhance modern educational practices, this paper underscores the enduring impact of his philosophical contributions to the fields of ethics and education.