Zhang Kebin Yao Haitao | a brief discussion on the length and shortness of Xunzi

[Yao Haitao] Brother, Professor Yang Zebo spoke in the Xunzi Academy group and wrote an article "To Lin Guihao" (about 1330 words). In the previous stage, Professor Yang published a large article entitled "Sexual Simplicity: Consultation: A Criticism of a Popular View in Xunzi Studies by Confucian Bioethics" in the 11th issue of Philosophical Dynamics in 2021, which aroused the attention and discussion of the academic community. Professor Yang agreed that Xunzi was a sexual simplicity, but did not agree with the name, or insisted on the name of "sexual evil theory". He believes that Xunzi Thought is a kind of regression for Kong Meng, a manifestation of the limitations of his thought. Insisting on Meng GaoXun and solving the ethical state of mind is its academic characteristic. Hu Shi has a saying, study more problems and talk less about doctrine.

[Zhang Kebin] The dispute between Professor Yang and Professor Lin is not, first of all, a dispute of doctrine, but a difference in theoretical thinking and ideological understanding. My most recent experience is that the Confucian literature in Guodian Chujian is following Confucius's ideas in developing human nature and Confucian enlightenment. Mencius and Xunzi, on the other hand, are the two ends of the spectrum. Mencius dug deep into the side of sexual goodness, transformed Guo Dianjian's benevolence and righteousness into benevolence and righteousness, and took the external problems of justice and justice into people's hearts, which is problematic, conscience and conscience can deal with ethical, political, social and other issues, and xunzi is from the simplicity of human nature against the good side of human nature, but instead reveals the evil side of human nature, so it emphasizes the etiquette and the law number, but it should be admitted that Xunzi's understanding of human disposition and the role of ritual education on temperament have a tendency to be simplistic and one-sided. Compared with Guodian Chujian's various articles, it is somewhat backward in terms of depth of thought. Today's words and unions with Meng Xun are generally reasonable. How to unify, or to return to Confucius, back to GuoDianjian, adhere to the benevolence of the inner and outer righteousness, and change from the human nature problem as the center to the emotional problem as the center.

[Yao Haitao] As far as Xunzi is concerned, he does have the suspicion of neglecting mental problems, and his tendency to turn outward is obvious. There are also certain problems with the treatment of the word "sexual evil". Therefore, the academic circles will say that there are contradictions and the like. Jiuyi changed "evil" to "bad" to solve this problem, which can indeed solve the problem, but whether the truth is negotiable. Guodian Chujian, I have not studied. It was only when I was studying Xun that I looked at it a little and felt that there was also a factor that separated heaven and man. It is before Xunzi and is also taken from Xunzi.

If we talk about the depth of thought, Xunzi is indeed not "philosophical" enough. My "philosophy" cultivation is limited, and maybe this is what attracted Xunzi to me. Xunzi is preferable, or on the side of its "science" (as for the content of this "science" can be discussed), attaching importance to the logical side, attaching importance to the side of institutional construction, and not relying on human nature.

(WeChat discussion on the morning of December 24, 2021)