Mencius (孟子)

The Mengzi (or Mencius) is a foundational Confucian text documenting the dialogues of the philosopher Meng Ke. Its central thesis is that human nature is inherently good (renxing shan), possessing innate seeds of compassion, ritual propriety, wisdom, and righteousness.

Mencius argued that just as water naturally flows downward, humans are naturally inclined toward virtue, though external pressures can corrupt this state. Politically, he advocated for ‘benevolent government’ (renzheng), asserting that rulers exist for the people’s welfare. He famously justified the removal of tyrants who fail their moral duty, prioritizing the populace over the state or the sovereign.