Hackett Publishing

Mengzi ("Mencius") is known for his sophisticated views on human nature and moral psychology. These essays explore a range of philosophical ideas at the core of his moral philosophy and relate them to both traditional Chinese and current Western philosophical concerns. The introduction provides historical background and philosophical context, and discusses each of the selections alongside Mengzi's work as a whole.

"It is difficult to do justice to the richness of all the essays in this short review. . . . [T]he exceptionally rigorous and inspiring scholarship offered by this collection has laid the groundwork for future inquiries, and anyone interested in Chinese thought will benefit greatly from engaging with the authors' enlightening and rewarding reconstructions of Mengzi's moral philosophy.  This is a remarkable achievement, especially given the fact that the Mengzi is an exceedingly difficult text."
     —Yang Xiao, Journal of the American Academy of Religion


CONTENTS:

Introduction.

A. C. Graham, "The Background of the Mengzian Theory of Human Nature."

I. T. Bloom, "Mengzian Arguments on Human Nature."

D. S. Nivison, "Mengzian: Just not Doing It."

X. Liu, "Mengzian Internalism."

E. Hutton, "Moral Connoisseurship in Mengzi."

X. Jiang, "Mengzi on Human Nature and Courage."

D. Wong, "Reasons and Analogical Reasoning in the Mengzi."

P. J. Ivanhoe, "Chinese Self-Cultivation and Mengzi's Notion of Extension."

Select Bibliography.


Xiusheng Liu is Assistant Professor of Philosophy, St. Cloud State University.

Philip J. Ivanhoe is Reader-Professor of Philosophy, City University of Hong Kong.