Comments on Confucius and Mencius' View of Destiny

Confucius' view of destiny is an affirmation of the traditional thought of "respecting heaven and ghosts" from Yin to Zhou. However, on the basis of recognition, Confucius advocated not paying too much attention, but directing people's attention from "heaven", "fate", "ghost" and "god" to real social life, and advocating doing everything possible to deal with "heaven".

Mencius said, "If you don't do it, you will be yourself, and it will be heaven." If you don't arrive, you will die. "Mean, let nature take its course does not depend on people's likes and dislikes, let nature take its course is destiny. When people know the role of fate, they should not go against it, but "accept it", that is, know the fate. He believes that in reality, people's wealth, enjoyment, life and death are all determined by fate, and everyone's attempt to change their destiny is to work hard. In this way, people will be content with their fate, will not be dissatisfied, will not complain about others, and will not even resist. In order to explain the rationality of the ethical system at that time, Mencius deliberately talked about obeying the monarch. The patriarchal clan system did not violate the destiny, and regarded filial piety as the basis of benevolence and righteousness, that is, human nature. Then, the essence of human nature has become an unavoidable topic for Mencius, and it has also become one of the topics he argued with other scholars!