ABSTRACT
In the opinion of moralists, the Mencius’ theory of goodness of human nature makes Confucian moralism clear and evident. Moralists, of course, look directly at Mencius’ theory of the goodness of human nature and the theory of four moral sprouts closely related to it under the moralistic perspective. Based on the integration of the heart-mind and nature philosophical interpretations, Mou Zongsan proposed that Mencius’ theory of goodness of human nature and theory of the four moral sprouts actually constitute a moral metaphysics structurally different from Western metaphysics, and generally defined as moral idealism. Mencius’ theory of goodness of human nature originates from the idea advocated by Zisi that “what Heaven has conferred is called ‘nature’. In Mencius’ opinion, human nature is the relationship between man and Heaven. The doctrine related to following and complying with Heaven directly contains the understanding of human nature.
