Mencius believed that human nature is good. Every person is born with instilled virtues. If a person is not virtuous, then he has been corrupted by his environment. Mencius's makes emphases on four main virtues. These virtues are righteousness, ritual property, benevolence, and wisdom. Although these virtues are instilled in a human being from his or her birth, they must be nurtured and put into effect in order to become fully developed. People are made good with good intentions, and must work to maintain their good nature.

Hsun Tzu believed human nature is bad. No one is born with any of their principles already instilled in their nature. Therefore, they must be taught and cultivated in ethics. Throughout Hsun Tzu's basic writings he gives key subjects people should learn and use that knowledge to apply the subjects to their lives. These points includ

How a person understands a problem is important because understanding leads to a solution. If a person understands a problem in a different way then someone else, there will be different solutions. Mencius and Hsun Tzu had different views on human nature. Therefore, their conceptions altered the way one perceives a problem. These conceptions are imperative and should be carefully applied to the correct problems. This will create solutions that will provide suitable conclusions.

A contemporary issue America is facing today is whether or not to go to war with Iraq. Many different people have opposing views on this subject. One group, who would be Hsun Tzu followers, would like to destroy the evil that could plague the United States with nuclear weapons. Whereas another group, who would be Mencius followers, would like to assume the good in the Iraqi people, and work to bring out the inner good that is instilled inside these foreigners. Mencius and Hsun Tzu would have been these opposing forces on the subject of how to fix the problem with Iraq. Mencius believed we should work a problem from the inside out. Therefore, America would try to find a more peaceful way of solving the problem. They would attempt to change the citizens o

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Approximate Word count = 833
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)