Synthesized answer
Mencius would likely argue that the pursuit of "profit," even when managed ethically, leads to self-interest and danger for the kingdom. He distinguishes between what he terms "profit" and "benevolence and righteousness" [1, 2]. When superiors and inferiors alike are focused on profiting their own families or persons, they will try to snatch profit from each other, endangering the entire kingdom [2]. This can lead to a situation where even the murderer of a sovereign could become the chief of a significant family allotment [1, 2].
Mencius believes that a benevolent ruler should focus on establishing a government of benevolence, which will naturally attract people and foster prosperity [5]. He emphasizes regulating the livelihood of the people to ensure they have enough to support their families [3]. This, in turn, allows them to be more receptive to goodness, whereas a lack of a certain livelihood can lead to moral deflection and depravity [3]. The passages do not explicitly detail different forms of "profit" but strongly suggest that any focus on personal or familial gain, as opposed to benevolence and righteousness, is detrimental [1, 2].
Synthesized from the book passages below. Chat with the book on Feynman for follow-up.
From the book
e kingdom of ten thousand chariots, the murderer of his sovereign shall be the chief of a family of a thousand chariots. In the kingdom of a thousand chariots, the murderer of his prince shall be the chief of a family of a hundred chariots. To have a thousand in ten thousand, and a hundred in a thousand, cannot be said not to be a large allotment, but if righteousness be put last, and profit be put first, they will not be satisfied without snatching all. 'There never has been a benevolent man who neglected his parents. There never has been a righteous man who made his sovereign an after…
← The Chinese Classics/Volume 2/The Works of Mencius The Chinese Classics/Volume 2/The Works of Mencius by Mencius , translated by James Legge Chapter 1 Chapter 2 → 410759 The Chinese Classics/Volume 2/The Works of Mencius — Chapter 1 James Legge Mencius Mencius went to see king Hûi of Liang. The king said, 'Venerable sir, since you have not counted it far to come here, a distance of a thousand lî, may I presume that you are provided with counsels to profit my kingdom?' Mencius replied, 'Why must your Majesty use that word "profit?" What I am provided with, are counsels to benevolence and…
Mencius replied, 'They are only men of education, who, without a certain livelihood, are able to maintain a fixed heart. As to the people, if they have not a certain livelihood, it follows that they will not have a fixed heart. And if they have not a fixed heart, there is nothing which they will not do, in the way of self-abandonment, of moral deflection, of depravity, and of wild license. When they thus have been involved in crime, to follow them up and punish them;-- this is to entrap the people. How can such a thing as entrapping the people be done under the rule of a benevolent man? 21.…
tand before you and receive your orders? Your Majesty's various officers are sufficient to supply you with those things. How can your Majesty be led to entertain such a desire on account of them?' 'No,' said the king; 'my desire is not on account of them.' Mencius added, 'Then, what your Majesty greatly desires may be known. You wish to enlarge your territories, to have Ch'in and Ch'û wait at your court, to rule the Middle Kingdom, and to attract to you the barbarous tribes that surround it. But doing what you do to seek for what you desire is like climbing a tree to seek for fish.' 17. The…
nd Tsâu's contending with Ch'û? For, with such a desire, you must turn back to the proper course for its attainment. 18. 'Now if your Majesty will institute a government whose action shall be benevolent, this will cause all the officers in the kingdom to wish to stand in your Majesty's court, and all the farmers to wish to plough in your Majesty's fields, and all the merchants, both travelling and stationary, to wish to store their goods in your Majesty's market-places, and all travelling strangers to wish to make their tours on your Majesty's roads, and all throughout the kingdom who feel…
More questions about this book
- If you were to explain Mencius's fundamental concern with King Hûi's use of "profit" to a modern leader, how would you articulate the precise chain of societal decay Mencius predicts, and what specific steps in this progression are most convincingly illustrated by his examples?
- Mencius states, "There never has been a benevolent man who neglected his parents. There never has been a righteous man who made his sovereign an after consideration." What essential human principles or societal structures does Mencius assume are universally true to make these claims, and how do they underpin his argument for prioritizing benevolence and righteousness over profit?
- Consider a contemporary ethical dilemma in leadership or business where the pursuit of "profit" (broadly defined as gain or advantage) clashes with principles of "benevolence and righteousness." How would Mencius analyze this situation, and what specific advice would he offer, based on his dialogue with King Hûi?
- Mencius urges King Hûi to "also say, 'Benevolence and righteousness, and let these be your only themes.'" Beyond simply reciting these words, what tangible shifts in policy, leadership behavior, and citizen interaction would Mencius expect to see in a kingdom that truly adopted benevolence and righteousness as its exclusive guiding principles, and how would these differ from a kingdom focused on profit?