Because of the fact that these writings of Mencius were done during the time of warring states, it sets the tone of their conversations and arguments.
Their theories’ and philosophy’s were all based on trying to find the stability their world around them needed.
The way they write makes you believe that the question in their mind was, why is this war happening? Is it becuase man is so evil, how do we control this? They wanted answers but before they can have them they had to start with the questions, and the questions were and the controversy between Mencius and KaoTzu was, is man naturally evil? Or is it a learned behavior and how do we control it? Can it be controlled? so that maybe then we can have a good government, a good order, a good life…
Mencius believed love and respect came naturally in human beings; where as KaoTzu believed that human nature was not naturally good or evil it could go both ways depending on the influence.
This different way of thought sets out both men into a war of theories in which I believe they both make good arguments toward their ideas.
I believe man has the capacity of both good and evil, I do believe man is initially good, but given the right circumstance can also be capable of evil.
A human being that has been good all his life, and has meant well to others always, that same man who all know as a “good man” someone you never thought capable of doing wrong or harm; if put into a situation that angers him to his core is capable of even killing. We have seen that repeatedly in the news, where someone has committed something horrible and no one thought him or her possible of doing that.
This is where I believe KaoTzu’s theory can be applied.
