Yangism

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Yangism (

Shiji, the school was not included as one of the Hundred Schools of Thought
.

Philosophy

"What Yang Zhu was for was self. If by plucking one hair he might benefit the whole world, he would not do it."[4]

— Mencius on Yang Zhu, Mengzi (4th century BC)

Yangism has been described as a form of psychological and

yi (righteousness) and the Legalist virtue of fa (law), the Yangists saw wei wo (為我), or "[everything] for myself," as the only virtue necessary for self-cultivation.[6] Individual pleasure is considered desirable, like in hedonism, but not at the expense of the health of individual.[7] The Yangists saw individual well-being as the prime purpose of life, and considered anything that hindered that well-being immoral and unnecessary.[7]

The main focus of the Yangists was on the concept of xing, or human nature,[1] a term later incorporated by Mencius into Confucianism. The xing, according to sinologist A. C. Graham, is a person's "proper course of development" in life. Individuals can only rationally care for their own xing, and should not naively have to support the xing of other people, even if it means opposing the emperor.[5] In this sense, Yangism is a "direct attack" on Confucianism, by implying that the power of the emperor, defended in Confucianism, is baseless and destructive, and that state intervention is morally flawed.[5]

The Confucian philosopher Mencius depicts Yangism as the direct opposite of Mohism, while Mohism promotes the idea of universal love and impartial caring, the Yangists acted only "for themselves," rejecting the altruism of Mohism.[8]

Reception

Criticism

Mencius additionally criticized the Yangists as selfish, ignoring the duty of serving the public and caring only for personal concerns.

Middle Way" between Mohism and Yangism.[3]

Influence on later beliefs

Part of a series on
Hedonism
Thinkers
Schools of hedonism
Key concepts
Related articles

Mencius incorporated the Yangist concept of xing into his own philosophy. Some sinologists have argued that Yangism influenced Taoism, and can be seen as a "precursor" to later Taoist beliefs.[7]

See also

  • Yang Zhu
  • Cārvāka
    , a hedonic Indian school

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-0-87220-780-6
    . "Yangzhu's own way has been described as psychological egoism (humans are in fact motivated only by self-interest), ethical egoism (humans should do only what is in their own self-interest), or primativism (humans should only do what is in the interest of themselves and their immediate family
  2. ISBN 978-0-8047-4017-3
    .
  3. ^
    ISBN 978-0-8047-4017-3
    . "there is little evidence that Yangist teachings were influential during Mencius's time, and this has led some scholars to suggest that Mencius exaggerated the movement's influence
  4. ISBN 978-0-04-299010-1
    .
  5. ^
    ISBN 978-1-58901-094-9
    .
  6. ISBN 978-0-415-26228-6
    .
  7. ^
    ISBN 978-0-631-21327-7
    .
  8. ISBN 978-0-87220-780-6
    .

External links
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