From lack of reflection(si) to moral failure: moral psychology in Mencius

• Main Author: Choo, Lok Chui
• Other Authors: Winnie Sung
• Format: Thesis-Doctor of Philosophy
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2023
• Subjects: Humanities::Philosophy
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/170174
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Mencius famously argues that ‘If it performs si思, then it will get it. If it does not perform si, then it will not get it’ (6A:15), which leads many commentators to acknowledge that si plays an important role in Mencian self-cultivation. However, what exactly does si refer to? In addition, ‘If it does not perform si, then it will not get it’ seems to assert that moral failure is caused by not performing si. If so, how does not performing si lead to moral failure? Furthermore, what leads the agent not to perform si? In other words, what is the source of moral failure? Mencius asserts that in addition to not performing si, ‘If one does not focus one’s heart and unify one’s zhi志, then one won’t get it’ (6A:9). What then is the relationship between zhi, si and moral failure in Mencius’ moral psychology? This thesis addresses these closely related questions, and thus expounds Mencius’ moral psychology. To answer these questions, this thesis has three aims. The first is to explain the activity of si and the importance of si in Mencian self-cultivation through textual analysis and philosophical analysis of si and related concepts. The second aim is to expound on how not performing si leads to moral failure, and how the source of moral failure leads to not performing si. The third aim is to define zhi and the relationship between zhi and si in Mencius’ moral psychology. This thesis argues that si refers to the mental activity of identifying the value of an object, and that the reason for not performing si lies in the circumstances in which the moral agent is situated. Moreover, not performing si leads to not setting one’s zhi on benevolence and righteousness, which in turn leads the agent to not follow their natural disposition towards benevolence and righteousness. Moral failure is the result.