Episode 10: Mencius on Moral Development

How do we become good? What is the process by which we acquire the virtues? We examine these question by focusing on some key concepts in Mencius's account of moral development such as reflection and extension. This discussion also centers on Mengzi 1A7 and the famous "king and the ox" passage that has been the subject of much conversation and debate.

We are honored and delighted to be joined by Professor Bryan Van Norden, one of the world's leading scholars of Chinese philosophy and author of numerous highly influential books and articles. Please check out his work at bryanvannorden.com.

Many thanks to The Hong Kong Ethics Lab for sponsoring this podcast series.

Want to continue the discussion? Need links to some of the sources mentioned? Go to the support page for this episode on Warp, Weft, and Way.

We thank Lena Li (LI La 李拉 ) for her expert editing and sound engineering. We also thank the blog Warp, Weft & Way for hosting the discussion for this episode.

Co-hosts:
Richard Kim's website
Justin Tiwald's website

Chapters

• 0:00 Part I -- Introduction
• 4:02 • Preface to today’s guest and topic
• 8:37 Part II -- Mencius on moral development
• 8:38 • Introducing Bryan Van Norden
• 17:42 • Introducing "the King and the Ox" (Mencius 1A7)
• 25:43 • Mencius 1A7, first section
• 33:37 • Mencius 1A7, second section
• 41:28 • Mencius 1A7, third section
• 45:11 • Extension as a way of reshaping emotions
• 52:51 • Quick accounts of reflection (si 思) and extension (tui 推)
• 55:31 • The many senses and connotations of si 思 (reflection, concentration, longing)
• 1:00:30 • Mencius on "weighing" things
• 1:06:06 • Is the king's capacity for humaneness a seedling or an adolescent plant?
• 1:12:19 • How Mencian moral education differs from an applied ethics course and other familiar models
• 1:25:39 • Closing question for our guest