Philosophy 152 Philosophy of Human Nature Darwall Fall 1996 MENCIUS II I Recall the passages: p. 76: "The heart of compassion is the germ of benevolence; the heart of shame, of dutifulness; the heart of courtesy and modesty, of observance of the rights; the heart of right and wrong, of wisdom. Man has these four germs just as he has four limbs." see also, p. 81: "The heart of compassion pertains to benevolence . . . to wisdom." heart of compassion germ of benevolence (jen) heart of shame germ of dutifulness (yi) heart of courtesy, modesty germ of propriety, keeping the (embarrassment?) rites (li) heart of right/wrong germ of wisdom (chih) (guilt) p. 76: "Whoever is devoid of the heart of compassion . . . heart of right and wrong is not human." evidence of the "heart of compassion": example at top p. 76 evidence of someone's "heart" in his face: top, p. 78 What about other "hearts". Shame? (Sartre's example). Courtesy? (embarrassment?) II What is the relation of the "heart" or "germs" to that of which they are germs? What is the relation between dutifulness and wisdom? Note: "There are many duties one should discharge . . ." (78)) And: "A great man will not observe a rite that is contrry to the spirit of the rites, nor will he perform a duty that goes against the spirt of dutifulness." Possible answer: spontaneous natural human emotions with ethical import (involving the "appearance" of ethical reasons), which provide the materials for their respective virtues, and for the "master" virtue of III How does Mencius believe that we can cultivate the virtues? (a) by "retain[ing] [one's] heart" (79); not "letting go" of it (82) Removing "interference" (90) How does one do this? (b) by "extending" benevolence (King Hsüan and the ox) (c) by always looking within to one's own character as the source of one's problems: "If others do not respond . . ." (79)