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« Dust Off Your A. N. Whitehead | Main | Friday I Ching Blogging - Who Will Win The Super Bowl »

January 31, 2008

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Sam,

Thanks! I knew I threw the ball to the right guy.

I don't read Confucius as having a theory of the innate goodness of human nature, as Mencius does, but at the same time I don't think he follows Xunzi either. I think he's neutral on it. Still, I think he would clearly have taken a Mencian line -- exemplary modeling is the right path. Legalistic approaches seem anathema to the Confucian view, as far as I can tell. If anything, 'deterministic' theories of behavior that depend on fear of punishment or even hope for external reward miss the boat entirely. The Confucian seems to believe that such motivational structures are more appropriate for the "min" and certainly not for the junzi.

I'm 1-year-old daughter and 3-year-old with a father in child-rearing study. Would like, please link.
http://manngaomoroo.blogspot.com/

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