HIST 11A Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Tao Te Ching, Yang Zhu, Mozi
Document Summary
Food needs to be provided, house, clothes, etc. If not taken care of, humans will be tuned out of moral appeal: rulers example translates to the rest of society. People are rather passive and follow role models. Matter of willpower and commitment to moral vision: disappointed by rulers of his day who are interested in moral conquest. Mencius angered by rulers" desire for profit and glory: challenges hereditary rights of rulers. Soft-hearted optimistic view gives way to tough minded view seen in mohism: rulers were more attracted to legalism instead. I(cid:374)t(cid:396)odu(cid:272)es (cid:272)o(cid:374)(cid:272)ept of xi(cid:374)g (cid:894)(cid:862)(cid:374)atu(cid:396)e(cid:863)(cid:895) tendency for something to grow and develop in a predetermined direction: human nature is distinct due to tendency to pursue desires for health, long-live, freedom from anxiety. Need to overcome in order to achieve emptiness. Gao zi : according to mencius, gao zi maintains that there are certain appetites, material comforts, found in all sentient creatures.
