通过《蝇王》分析对比中西方人性理论Comparison of Chinese and Western Human Nature Theory through Lord of the Flies

ChapterOneIntroductionTheearliestandmostwell-knownbookbycurrentauthorWilliamGolding,LordoftheFlies,holdsasignificantplaceinliterature.IntheaftermathofWorldWarⅢ,anuclearconflictisdepictedinthebook.BoysfromtheBritishmainlandareevacuatedtothesouthusingaplane.Thechildren’scabinlandsonalonelycoralislandwhentheplaneisshotdown.Thekidsbeginabrand-newlifefullofexcitementinsucharemotesetting.Thechildrencanruntheirsmallcommunityaccordingtoreasonandorderatfirstbecausetheystillexhibitthetraitsandcustomsofcivilizedsociety.RalphandJackareinchargeofthetwogroupsofkids.Thetwofactionsbegintobattleoneanotherforcontrolofthelittlesocietyandtherighttoimposelaws.RalphandPiggyareseverelybatteredbyJackandRogerintheensuingfight.Thegroupofchildrencompletelydegeneratesintoagroupofbloodthirstycreatureswithoutthereasonandorderofthecivilizedworld,withoutorderandlaws,andwithoutmutualaidandcollaboration.Thechildren’scivilizedandorderlysocietysoonbrokeapartasaresultofthegrowingpowerstruggleandthetensionbetweenwantandresponsibility.Theislandultimatelydisplaysadepressingandterriblescene.Theauthoritarian,whofavorsinstinct,ultimatelytriumphsagainstthedemocratic,whoplacesanemphasisongovernance.ThemajorcharactersofthearticleareRalph,Piggy,andSimon,whoprimarilyrepresentthepositivesideofhumannature.JackandRoger,whorepresenttheothersideofhumannatureunderextremecircumstances,servetoexplainhowgraduallythebadsideofhumannatureemerges.Thetermhumanitydescribesthecharacterandessenceofpeople.TherearetwofundamentalapproachestocomprehendinghumannatureinancientChina.Oneisgood,andtheotheriswicked,accordingtovarioussocialandhistoricalcircumstances.Allpeople,accordingtogoodnature,haveapropensityfordoinggood.Andevilinnaturemaintainsthateveryonehasapropensityforevil.TraditionalChineseandWesterncultureshaveextremelydifferentperspectivesonwhatmakespeopletick.Thisisconnectedtothevariousnations’andcountries’historicalandsocialstages.ChinesehumannaturetheoryisanimportantpartoftraditionalChinesephilosophy,whichemphasizesthemoralself-consciousnessandcultivationoftheindividual,therelationshipbetweentheindividualandsociety,andthebalancebetweentheindividualandthecollective.Westernhumannaturetheoryconsidershumannatureasdiverseandindeterminate,focusesonindividualautonomyandfreewill,andemphasizestheroleofrationalthinkingandlogicalreasoninginhumanbehavioranddecision-making.ChapterTwoChineseandWesternHumanNatureTheoryByunderstandingtherespectivetheoriesofhumannatureinChinaandtheWestisconducivetolateranalysistoexplorethesimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenthetwo.BothChineseandWesterntheoriesofhumannaturehavealonghistory,andthroughtheinfluenceofdifferentculturesandhistories,theyhavedifferentdevelopmenttrends.Inthefollowing,thedevelopmentofChineseandWesterntheoriesofhumannaturewillbeoutlinedandsortedoutseparately.2.1ChineseHumanNatureTheoryInChinesephilosophy,humannatureisakeyideathatisconsideredasearlyasintheBookofChanges.Regardingdiscussionsofhumannature,traditionalChinesecultureplacesastrongemphasisonthefunctionofinternalnature,viewsnaturalnatureandinternalnatureasthefoundations,andplacesparticularemphasisontheconnectionbetweenmoralityandetiquetteandhumannature.TraditionalChinesephilosophy’sviewofhumannaturefocusesmostlyontheconceptsofnaturedevoidofgoodandevil,natureasessentiallygood,natureasfundamentallyevil,andnatureasacombinationofgoodandevil.Menciuswastheonewhooriginallyadvancedthetheoryoforiginalgoodnessofhumannature.Inherenthumannature,orthemoralnaturethatsetshumansapartfromotheranimals,isreferredtoas“humannature”byMencius.Toestablishagoodvirtue,peoplemustincreasethegoodinhumannature.Mencius’wayofthinkingiscompletelyopposedtothatofXunzi,whorepresentstheevilviewofnature.AccordingtoXunzi,“humannature”referstoaperson’sinherentqualities,whichincludetheirphysicalfeaturesaswellasalloftheirdesiresandperceptions.Humannaturehasalongingforthingsoutsideofourselves,andifwesolelyfollowthat,itwouldleadtoconflictsamongpeopleandanarchyinsociety.Themoralityrequiredtoupholdsocialorderistheproductofartificialmoldingratherthananythinginherentinhumannature.Severalexplanationshavebeenproposedinadditiontothetwowell-knowntheoriesoftheancientChinesethatwerealreadydiscussed.Humannatureisneutral;thereisnogoodorevil.TheTaoistpriestpromotedthisviewpointduringtheWarringStatesera.Inthiscontext,“humannature”referstoaperson’sinborncharacteristics.Gaozibelievedthatwhatmakesmanuniqueishisbiologicalattractiontostrangeobjects.Humansshapeandhaveanimpactonhumanbeings’virtueandeviloncetheyhavebeenacquired.Positiveeffectsmightbeviewedaspositive,andnegativeconditionscanbeviewedasevil.Theideathatgoodandevilcoexistsuggeststhathumannatureisneitherentirelygoodnorentirelybad.Itisaman’supbringingthatdetermineswhetherheisgoodorevil.Giventhatgoodandevilareentwined,developinggoodvirtuerequireslearningandcultivation.AnoldChineseideaknownasthethreequalitiesofhumannatureproposescategorizinghumannatureintothreegroups.Accordingtothenotion,therearethreedistinctlevelsofhumannature:upper,middle,andlower.Thetoppeoplearevirtuous,whilethebottompeoplearebad.Theindividualsinthemiddleareneithernaturallygoodnorbad,norbothareblended.ThemaingoalofDongZhongshu’sThreeVirtuesofHumanNatureTheoryistostabilizetheancientcultureofpursuinggoodnessandhealing.Itoffersafoundationalconceptandamodelfortheconventionalviewofhumannature,whichholdsthatindoctrinationcanchangehumannaturefromoneofeviltooneofgoodness.2.2WesternHumanNatureTheoryIntheWest,thinkershavecontinuouslychangedtheirexplorationandthinkingonissuesrelatingtohumannature,fromtheoldestancientGreekmythologytothemostrecentscienceofhumannature.VarioustheoriesofhumannaturehavealsobeenpermeatingthedevelopmentofWesternideologyandculture.SincethetimeoftheancientGreeks,philosophershavebeguntoexaminethetheoryofhumannature.AccordingtoSocrates,theprocessofself-knowledgeshouldbeginwiththeseparationofgoodfromevilandgoodfrombad.Theconceptofgoodnessisnotsomethingthatisimposedorexternaltohumans;rather,itisconsistentwithhumanreasonandingrainedinthehumansoul,whichisanecessaryconditionofreasonitself.Second,headvancedthenotionoftheultimateGood.Heheldthatbothhumannatureandeverlastinganduniversalvirtuearethesourcesofhumanmorality.Additionally,heholdsthatgoodnessandvirtueshareacommoncharacter.Itisbecauseofthissharednature,inhisopinion,thatthesupremegood—ageneralanduniversalgoodexistsbeyondallotherkindsofgood.PlatoadoptedSocrates’beliefinthegoodnessofhumannature,contendingthatitistheoriginofallthings.HumannatureisgoodsinceGod,whoisthenoumenonofgoodandthesourceofallgoodness,createdhim.AccordingtoPotato,allhumanknowledgeofgoodnessisderivedfrominnateability,andhumanknowledgeofgoodnessalreadyexistsinalatentformwithinhumansoulsbutisobscuredbythebodyandforgotten.Asaresult,goodnessisnotasenseofthetangibleworldbutratheramemoryoftheworldofideas,andhumanscanunderstandthingsmoreclearlyviatheprocessofrememberingandlearning.Restoringknowledgeofthegoodthatexistsineverypersonisthegoalofeducation.Aristotle,whoadheredtoPlato’stheoryofthegoodnessofhumannature,wasthephilosopherwhoactuallyfullyandmethodicallystudiedtheideaofgoodandevil.Heusedthegoodasabeginningpointforthestudyoftheindividual’sgood.AccordingtoAristotle,manisgoodbecauseheisrationalandhisnatureisoneofreason.TheprevailingmainstreamschoolinWesternphilosophyandsocietyisthedoctrineoftheevilofhumannature.TherearefourstagestotheWesterntheoryoftheintrinsicevilofhumannature.ChristianityhadamajorimpactonhowpeopleperceivedtheunderlyingevilofhumannatureinancientRome.Augustineadvancedtheoriginalsinideaofevil,asstatedintheScriptures.Heheldtheviewsthateveryoneissinful,humannatureisevil,thatpeoplecannotsavethemselves,thattheycanonlybesavedbyobeyingthechurch,thattheycanonlybesavedbypiousfaith,andthattheycanonlybesavedbyreceivingGod’sgiftsthroughthechurch.TheItalianpoliticaltheoristMachiavelliwastheRenaissance’smostovertproponentofevilofhumannature.Humannatureisevil,andtheworldisfilledwithegotistical,mercenaryindividualswholackcriticalthinkingskills,accordingtoMachiavelli.Hebelievedthatpeoplewereparticularlyungrateful,fickle,hypocritical,egotistical,andinsatiableanimals.HetaughttheKingshowtodoevilandhowtobegoodatitbybeginningwiththenaturalevil.LutherandCalvinincreasinglyrevivedAugustine’sthesisofancientRomeduringtheReformation.Theydid,however,rejectthetheologicalauthorityoftheChurchbetterthanAugustinedid.ArgumentsthatallpeopleareinherentlybadstemmostlyfromthefactthathumanforefatherswereeviliswrongandgoesagainstGod’swill.IfindividualsdonotreverentlybelieveinGod,theywillnotbeabletoreceiveGod’sgiftofsalvation,andtheywillbefreetopursuetheirdesirestothefullest,whichwillleadthemintothedepthsofevil.ChapterThreeTheSimilaritiesandDifferencesbetweenChineseandWesternHumanNatureTheoryinLordoftheFliesThroughtheabove,itcanbeanalyzedthattherearemanysimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenChineseandWesterntheoriesofhumannature.ThedifferencesbetweenChineseandWesterntheoriesofhumannaturearereflectedinthedifferentunderstandingbetweenindividualandcollective,freewillandsocialnorms,andarealsorelatedtothedifferencesinthenatureandvaluesofhumanbeings.However,therearenotonlydifferencesbetweenthetwo,intheprocessofunderstandinghumanbeingswiththesamebasicconnotationofthetheoryofsexualgoodness.ThefollowingwillanalyzethesimilaritiesanddifferencesbetweenChineseandWesterntheoriesofhumannaturethroughtheplotandcontentofLordoftheFlies.3.1SimilaritiesTherearesignificantparallelsbetweenChineseandWesternideasofhumannature.Self-realization,freechoice,self-perfection,andhumangoodnessareseenassignificantaimsandtraitsintheevolutionofhumannaturebybothChineseandWesternnations.Thesesimilaritiesshowfundamentalhumanneedsandvalueconcepts.WeshallexaminethesimilaritiesbetweenChineseandWesternideasofhumannaturefromtwoanglesinthedebatethatfollows.3.1.1TheProcessofUnderstandingHumanBeingsChinesethinkersplaceastrongemphasisonexaminingpersonsfromthestandpointofsocialcharacteristicsandvalueinterpersonalrelationships.Thefivetypesoftiesbetweenfatherandson,kingandminister,husbandandwife,eldersandchildren,andfriendsarereferredtoas“therelationshipbetweenpeople”.Theancientsthoughtthatthesefiverelationshipsrepresentedpeople’svariouslevelsofseniority,intimacy,andage.Peopleshouldadheretothecodeofconductinvarioushumaninteractionsdependingontheirstatus.MenciusexaminedthenatureofmanintheWarringStateserausingsocialcharacteristics.Heheldtheopinionthathavingenoughtoeat,warmclothing,oracomfortablelifearenotthereasonswhypeoplechoosetobehuman.Manisnodifferentfromanimalsifthereareonlythosewithoutenlightenment.Topreventturningintoanimals,peoplehavethemoralconceptsofgoodness,righteousness,propriety,wisdom,andfaithandupholdthemorallaws.Becausemoralityisabyproductofsocialization,peoplewhoupholdmoralstandardsarethepersonificationofsocialcharacteristics.Westernphilosophersstudiedhumannaturestartingwithnaturalattributes.Naturalcharacteristicsarethosethatareinherenttohumans,suchaseating,dressing,livinginahome,reproducing,andsoforth.AccordingtoHobbes,thefulfillmentofaperson’sphysiologicaldemandsistheultimateformofwelfare.Accordingtohim,conflictarisesfrommankindstrivingforprofit,doubtingtheirsafety,andhurtingoneanotherforrenown.Latterlybelievedthatasitishumannaturetoseekprofitandpreventharm,pursuingone’sinterestsisacceptable.LaMettriebelievedthatsinceitishumannaturetoseekadvantageandpreventharm,pursuingone’sinterestsisacceptable.AlthoughChinaandtheWestapproachthestudyofhumanbeingsfromdifferentperspectivesandwithvarioussolutions,bothusehumanappetitesandcravingsasthestartingpointfortheiranalysisofhumannaturewhenconfrontedwithtemptationsofpower.Bothsocietiesexaminethemostbasichumanrequirements,suchasthoseforfood,clothes,shelter,andtransportation,andtheyholdthebeliefthatitisinherentlyhumannaturetotrytoavoidinjuryandselfishness.Ralphservesasthebook’sembodimentoflawandcivilization.Hefollowsthelawandseekspeacefulsolutionstoconflicts.Simonisalittleboywhostandsforkindnessandbravery.Alongwithbeingkindtoallchildren,healsotakescarefulcareoftheisland’splantsandflowers.Despitebeingmadefunof,hecontinuedtobewillingtoassistothers.Atfirst,Piggycomesacrossascowardly,yethehasasharpmindandconsistentlyoffersrealisticsolutionswhenRalphisathiswit’send.Piggy,likeRalphandSimon,isarepresentationofthekindnessandbeautyfoundinhumannature.Healsothinksthatcivilizationmustbepreservedandmakeseveryefforttocreateandupholdit.ButJackandRogerarethecompleteoppositeofthem.Jackpersonifieswickednessandsavagery.Hedisplayshisdesirefordominancerightawayinthebook.Hedisregardslawandorderinfavorofpursuingpower.Heiscompletelypreoccupiedwithhuntingwhileoblivioustothefirethatiscrucialtotheirsurvival,graduallyrevealingthedarknessinhumannature.Rogerexhibitsnefariousandmurderoustraits.HeisJack’saccompliceand,despitetheauthor’ssparsedescriptionofhim,heisfullycommittedtoachievinghisowngoalsinexchangeforJack’strustandcompliance.Throughthedescriptionofthemaincharacters,thenovelcanfullyreflecttheWesternthinkers’viewthatpeoplearemainlyunderstoodandexploredbythenature.ByanalyzingGolding’sportrayalofthenovel’smaincharacters,itcanbefullyreflectedthathebuildscharactersbasedontheirdesireandthirstforpower,distinguishingbetweenRalphandJack,twocharacterizationsrepresentingdifferenthumannatures.3.1.2TheBasicConnotationoftheTheoryofOriginalGoodnessofHumanNatureTheneedsofthegrowthofTheTimesshouldbeintegratedwiththediscussionofthetheoryoforiginalgoodnessofhumannatureinChinaandtheWest.ConfucianismhasanimpactontheChineseviewofthetheoryoforiginalgoodnessofhumannature.Menciusthoughtthatallhumanbeingspossesscompassion,shame,respect,andanawarenessofrightandwrong.Theyareequivalenttokindness,justice,appropriateness,andwisdom.Similartohowhumansarebornwithlimbs,theyareinnate.Theyarenaturallypresentinourbodiesalready.Sociomoralnormsstartwithgoodness,righteousness,appropriateness,andwisdom.Peoplearenotsubjectedtooutsideimpositions.Theyareatypeoftalentandatypeofinformationthatcanbepickedupquicklyandeasily,butsomeindividualschoosenottolookforthem.ThetheoryoforiginalgoodnessofhumannaturehasbeenresearchedintheWestsincethetimeofancientGreece.InthehistoryofWesternphilosophy,Socrateswasthefirstlivingphilosopherwhosoughtouttheinneressenceofpeopleandsawthemasrationalcreatures.Socratesdiscussedvirtuefromavarietyofperspectives.Heheldthatkindnessisthesourceofallhumanthoughts,feelings,andbehaviorsandthatallpeopleareseekinggoodnessintheirsouls.Thecoreofpeoplecanbeseenthroughgoodness.Theultimategoodisthehighestlevelofexistence,andgoodnessistheaimofallactionsandthehighestmoralworth.TheideaofthegoodisnotthesameforAristotleandSocrates.Heseparatestheexcellentintothegoodoftheoryandthegoodofscience.Thepursuitofpureknowledgeandthetheoreticalgoodaretheultimategoalsandthecentralissueinallacademicfields.ItisclearfromthisthatbothChineseandWesternersconsidergoodnesstobeadesirablequalityinindividuals.Thenationwillbericher,societywillbemoreharmonious,andpeoplewillbehappierwhenpeoplestrengthentheirmoralconceptsandtakemoralresponsibilityfortheiractions.3.2DifferencesThesimilaritiesbetweenChineseandWesterntheoriesofhumannatureareintroducedabove.Thenextstepistoanalyzetheirdifferences.TherearemanydifferencesbetweenChineseandWesterntheoriesofhumannature.IntheWest,thetheoryofhumannatureusuallyreferstothebasicnatureandpersonalitytypeofpeople,whichwasestablishedbyancientGreekphilosophers.InChina,thetheoryofhumannaturefocusesmoreonmoralqualitiesandcodesofconduct,whicharebasedonConfucian,TaoistandBuddhistthoughts.ThefollowingwilldiscussthedifferencesbetweenChineseandWesterntheoriesofhumannaturefromthreeperspectives.3.2.1TheDominantTheoryTheConfuciantheoryofhumannaturevirtueisthemostprevalenttheoryofhumannatureinChineseculture.Confuciuslefttheimpressionthathumannatureissameandhabitsarewidelydisparatebynottalkingmuchabouthumannature.Heassertedthathumanessenceisuniversalandconstant,withonlyparticularwaysoflivingdiffering.Confuciusdidnotgointodetailonhowpeoplearesimilarinnature,though.MenciuswasthefirstphilosopherinChinesethoughthistorytocomprehensivelyexplainthecharacteristicsofallpeopleandascribethesecharacteristicstoinnategoodness.HecontinuedConfucius’theoryofthesimilarityofhumannature.HisideasonthissubjecthadasignificantimpactonseveralgenerationsofChinesepeople.Accordingtohistheory,peoplearebornwiththesetypesofmotivationsandwill,soaslongastheyaresubjectedtosubjectivecultivation,theirbehaviorwillnaturallyconformtobenevolence,justice,propriety,andwisdom.Asaresult,sociallifewillnotstrayfromthepathofbenevolentgovernance.ThisfundamentalassessmentofhumannatureevolvedovertheensuingmillenniatobecomeaConfucianclassicandtheacceptedviewpointonhumannatureinChineseculture.TheWestandChina,however,differgreatlyinmanyways.InWesternculture,theideathathumannatureisbadpredominates.ThesimplestChristianinterpretationofhumannatureisthatwearebornwithasinfulnature.First,atonementandredemptionarerequiredbecausesinisanoffenseagainstGod,theCreatorandSavior.Thesecondisthatsiniswhatisknownasoriginalsin,orsinatbirth.Inotherwords,everyoneisonanequalfootingwhenitcomestosin.Europeansmadetheconsciousdecisiontoplacetheirfaithinthelawaboveallotherbeliefsbecausetheythoughtthathumannaturewasinherentlybad.Heraclitusexhortedthepopulacetodefendthecity’slaws.Withouttheruleoflaw,accordingtoPlato,mankindisnodifferentfromsavages.AccordingtoAristotle,thelawisthemanifestationofreason,whichisunaffectedbyanyeffectsofpassion.Westernlawsaretheresultofacompactbetweentherulersandtheruledaswellasthebattlebetweenthegovernedandtheordinarypeople.WesternersimaginativelyaskedGod,thesupremearbiter,toestablishthedivinerightthatchallengesthesecularrulealongsideChristianphilosophytoreinforcethisstructure.Westernersthinkthatbecausehumannatureisessentiallybad,peoplecan’ttaketheinitiativetofixtheirissuesandthatGodandthelawmustcontrolhumanconductandthought.Noonehastherighttobeabovethelawandunchecked,notChenMin,nottheemperor,notthesage,notthemortal.Theywerealsoadamantthatsevererestrictionwasnecessarysince,aspowerincreased,aperson’spotentialforharmincreased.BeforeGodandthelaw,allcreaturesareonanequalfooting.Ralph,PiggyandSimoninthenovelarethecivilizedfactionsofhumanbeingsinanextremesituation,andtheyarethesymboloforder.Ralph,asthechief,organizesmeetingstodiscusssurvivalandtriestoresolveconflictspeacefully,andherepresentsthegoodnessofhumanity.Butwhenallpeoplehavefearofmonsters,hedidnotgotoexplorewhethertherearemonsters,andnotassmartandbraveasSimonpointedoutthatthebeastsarethemselves,butwiththeotherstoargueaboutwhohastherighttodecidewhethertherearemonsters,heisnottheabsolutegood.AndJackandRogerarethenaturalhumanfaction,Jack’scharacterizationexistsinoppositiontoRalph,hesymbolizestheprimitiveinstinctsofhumans,hishumaneviliswiththegradualdeteriorationoftheenvironment,itisthislimitofthesituation,Jack’sdesireforsurvival,powerismoralitycannotbebound.ThehumannatureshowninJackisthegreedydesireandselfishnessthattheWesterntheoryofhumannaturebelievespeopleshowunderextremecircumstances.AfterJackandtheothersdefeatRalphinthenovel,theorderofthissmallsocietygraduallycollapsesanddisintegrates,andtheevilofhumannaturegraduallyclimbstoitspeak.AsmallsocietylikethedesertedislandisalsoamappingofWesternsociety,whichbelievesthathumannatureisevilandwantstoatonetoGodandprayforGod’sforgiveness.Justasmostofthesechildren,theheartisevil,theyaspiretopowerinextremecircumstances,althoughRalphandothersdesperatelywanttoretainthegoodofhumanityinthissmallsociety,butcannotresistJackandRoger,resultinginthissmallsocietywaseventuallyoccupiedbytheevilofhumanity.Chinesesocietybelievesthathumannatureisgood,aslongasthroughlatereducationcanbecomebetter,andforsomehumannatureevilpeople,throughthecorrectioncanalsomakethemgood,sothedominantideaofChinesesocietywillnotbeoccupiedbyhumannatureevil.3.2.2TheFundamentalConnotationsoftheTheoryofOriginalEvilofHumanNatureAlthoughbothChineseandWesternviewsofhumannatureincludethedoctrineofevilofhumannature,theirunderlyingimplicationsareverydifferent.Thedoctrineofevilofhumannaturehasgonethroughthreestagessincethepre-QinDynasty.Thefirstistheideaofevilofhumannature,whichXunzirepresents.Thesecondisthetheoryofhierarchicalevil,whichwasadvancedbyhumannaturetheoristsintheHanandTangdynasties.Andthethirdisthetheoryoftemperamentevil,whichwasadvancedintheSongandMingdynasties.TheonethathashadthemostimpactisXunzi’sthesisonthetheoryoforiginalevilofhumannature.TowardstheconclusionoftheWarringStatesera,whenrecurrentbattlesandsocialturmoilwereprevalent,livedXunzi.People’sselfishambitionsarebestdisplayedduringtimesofwaranddisorder,duringtimesofritualcollapseandmusicalchaos,andhumannatureconsistentlyexhibitsaselfishandviolentside.AccordingtoXunzi,everyoneisbornwiththepotentialforevil,andonlydifferencesariseasaresultoftheeducationalchangeofone’senvironment.Xunziplacesemphasisonhowtheacquiredenvironmentaffectshumannatureandchangesit.Accordingtohim,sagesarecreatedviaself-transformationinfluencedbytheirsocialsurroundingsratherthanbeingborn.Apersoncanbecomeagentlemaniftheycangainenlightenment,amassknowledge,andexercisemanners,andasaintiftheyamassgoodactions,accordingtohim.ThroughouttheearlyRomanEmpire,ChristianitygaverisetotheWesternconceptionofthetheoryoforiginalevilofhumannature.TherewerediscussionsatthetimeregardinghowtointerprettheBibleinlightofhumannature.AccordingtoAugustine,themanwasbornwithoriginalsin,hisnaturewasbad,andtheonlywayhecouldberescuedwasbyadheringtotheteachingsofthechurchandreceivingGod’smercy.BecauseAdam,thefirstancestorofman,wassinfulandwasbornwithsentimentsanddesiresthatwereevilandrebelledagainstGod,LutherheldtheRenaissanceviewthateveryonepossessedoriginalsin.Calvinsaidthateveryonehadoriginalsin,andthatdepravityandevilpermeatedallhumansoulswithoutdistinction.Babiesarebornwithseedsofsin,seedsofsin,andareboundtodosinfulthings,andsinfulresults.ItisclearthattheprimarydistinctionbetweenChineseandWesterntheoriesofevilisbasedonhowtheyapproachtheproblemandhowtheyalterhumancharacter.TheChinesetheoryoforiginalevilofhumannatureexplainshumannatureasbeingfullofdesireandflesh,askspeopletochangetheirbehavior,promotesusingsocietalmoralitytochangebehavior,andplaceslegalrestrictionsonpeople’sevildeeds.TheWesterntheoryoforiginalevilofhumannature,ontheotherhand,beginswithaninterpretationoftheBibletoexplainhumannature,promotestheuseofreligiousbelieftochangehumannature,andusesGodtorestrainpeoplefromdoingevilacts.Second,thestatusofindividualsdiffersbetweenthesetwoideas.HumanbeingsdonothaveanequalstandingaccordingtoXunzi’stheoryoforiginalevilofhumannature.Althoughhebelievesthatallpeoplehaveasinfulnature,healsoemphasizesthatsaintsaredistinctfromregularpeopleandhavethepowertorenderhumannatureasfalse.TheWesternviewofthetheoryoforiginalevilofhumannatureholdsthatallpeopleareequal.AccordingtoChristianity,everyonehasinherentsinandallsoulsareequalbeforeGod,buteveryoneisalsonaturallyevil.TheChinesetheoryoforigin