*13. Chap. IV. Pén-hsing [OMITTED] (On Original Nature).
The different theories of Chinese moralists on human nature
are discussed. Shih Tse holds that human nature is partly good,
partly bad, Mencius that it is originally good, but can be corrupted,
Sun Tse that it is originally bad, Kao Tse that it is neither good
nor bad, and that it all depends on instruction and development,
Lu Chia that it is predisposed for virtue. Tung Chung Shu and
Liu Hsiang distinguish between natural disposition and natural feelings.
Wang Ch`ung holds that nature is sometimes good and sometimes
bad, but essentially alike, being the fluid of Heaven, and
adopts the Confucian distinction of average people, people above,
and people below the average. The latter alone can be changed
by habit.
