Layman Talks "Mencius on Happiness"
The article of "Mencius on Happiness"(pursuit-of-happiness.org, 2009) is a very good article, which describes concisely what Mencius' thought in the field of happiness.
However, as a layman in psychology and philosophy, I would like to explain, in a layman way, what Mencius means by means of our today's common sense and instincts. And I hope it may help someone to understand it easily.
"Sprout of Humanity and Righteousness"
In the article, "we are endowed with the sprout of humanity and righteousness, and we simply need to steadily cultivate those sprouts to become virtuous people," where the sprout, by today's common sense, means our instincts.
Obviously, instincts are our ancestors' successful experiences saved on DNA.
More specifically, this instinct is the successful experiences of symbiosis against wild animals, natural disasters,etc.
And in the article, "to steadily cultivate those sprouts" simply means to strengthen the instincts with repetitive practice and meditation. That is to make new pre-instincts of humanity and righteousness at even higher level of symbiosis.
What is Qi?
Mencius said "gi" is "extremely big and extremely powerful."
Let us put it by today's common sense, the "qi" is today's positive attitude, morale and symbiotically strengthened power.
What is Shu?
In "There is nothing closer to humanity than to vigorously practice shu (consideration for others)," apparently, the shu must mean today's symbiosis in a enlarged symbiotic group.
Moral Inclination vs. Sensual Inclination
In "the moral inclinations should guide the more sensual inclinations," by today's common sense, the former are instincts plus present pre-instincts of high level, and the latter are merely instincts of low level formed long, long ago.
Symbiotic Borders
Perceptibly, all the problems of good-evil, friend-enemy, etc. in human minds come from how to draw the borders of our symbiotic groups.
Good people have broad symbiotic groups;evil people small ones. A very bad person may have a symbiotic group as small as his or her own family.
Obviously, in the age of highly developed world today, the symbiotic borders are the peripheral of our unique globe.
Conclusion
Good or evil is determined by the size of symbiotic group in our minds for keeping our DNA alive.
References: #1. W. Ying, articlesbasee.com, "Happy Life, Instincts, Wisdom, and Human Computer System." #2. ibid, "Valid Happiness, Instinct and Wisdom." #3. ibid, " Competing Instinct-Blindly or Instinct-Wisely?"
Copyright 2010 all rights reserved.
However, as a layman in psychology and philosophy, I would like to explain, in a layman way, what Mencius means by means of our today's common sense and instincts. And I hope it may help someone to understand it easily.
"Sprout of Humanity and Righteousness"
In the article, "we are endowed with the sprout of humanity and righteousness, and we simply need to steadily cultivate those sprouts to become virtuous people," where the sprout, by today's common sense, means our instincts.
Obviously, instincts are our ancestors' successful experiences saved on DNA.
More specifically, this instinct is the successful experiences of symbiosis against wild animals, natural disasters,etc.
And in the article, "to steadily cultivate those sprouts" simply means to strengthen the instincts with repetitive practice and meditation. That is to make new pre-instincts of humanity and righteousness at even higher level of symbiosis.
What is Qi?
Mencius said "gi" is "extremely big and extremely powerful."
Let us put it by today's common sense, the "qi" is today's positive attitude, morale and symbiotically strengthened power.
What is Shu?
In "There is nothing closer to humanity than to vigorously practice shu (consideration for others)," apparently, the shu must mean today's symbiosis in a enlarged symbiotic group.
Moral Inclination vs. Sensual Inclination
In "the moral inclinations should guide the more sensual inclinations," by today's common sense, the former are instincts plus present pre-instincts of high level, and the latter are merely instincts of low level formed long, long ago.
Symbiotic Borders
Perceptibly, all the problems of good-evil, friend-enemy, etc. in human minds come from how to draw the borders of our symbiotic groups.
Good people have broad symbiotic groups;evil people small ones. A very bad person may have a symbiotic group as small as his or her own family.
Obviously, in the age of highly developed world today, the symbiotic borders are the peripheral of our unique globe.
Conclusion
Good or evil is determined by the size of symbiotic group in our minds for keeping our DNA alive.
References: #1. W. Ying, articlesbasee.com, "Happy Life, Instincts, Wisdom, and Human Computer System." #2. ibid, "Valid Happiness, Instinct and Wisdom." #3. ibid, " Competing Instinct-Blindly or Instinct-Wisely?"
Copyright 2010 all rights reserved.
