Synthesized answer
Mencius's fundamental concern with King Hûi's focus on "profit" stems from a predicted chain of societal decay. He argues that if the king prioritizes profit, his great officers will prioritize the profit of their families, and the common people will prioritize their own personal gain [2]. This leads to a situation where "superiors and inferiors will try to snatch this profit the one from the other, and the kingdom will be endangered" [2]. The ultimate consequence is that the desire for profit overrides righteousness and benevolence, leading to extreme actions like murder [1].
The precise chain of decay begins with the king's emphasis on profit [2]. This filters down to all levels of society, causing individuals to pursue their own selfish gains at the expense of others [2]. Mencius illustrates this progression with the example that "in the kingdom of ten thousand chariots, the murderer of his sovereign shall be the chief of a family of a thousand chariots" [1, 2]. This specific consequence convincingly shows how a society fixated on profit can devolve into lawlessness and a disregard for proper authority, where those who commit heinous acts are still able to gain significant…
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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…
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…
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…
Mencius replied, 'With a territory which is only a hundred lî square, it is possible to attain to the royal dignity. 3. 'If Your Majesty will indeed dispense a benevolent government to the people, being sparing in the use of punishments and fines, and making the taxes and levies light, so causing that the fields shall be ploughed deep, and the weeding of them be carefully attended to, and that the strong-bodied, during their days of leisure, shall cultivate their filial piety, fraternal respectfulness, sincerity, and truthfulness, serving thereby, at home, their fathers and elder brothers,…
More questions about this book
- 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?
- A skeptic might argue that "profit," when managed ethically, is essential for a kingdom's prosperity and its ability to provide for its people. How might Mencius respond to this idea, distinguishing between different forms of "profit," or why might he believe that even well-intentioned pursuit of profit ultimately devolves into the self-interest and danger he describes?
- 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?