Good Confucianism book (pdf) - Department of Physics

98 Menciuswithin them. A bad economy is the second reason. Mencius said, “ In yearsof plenty, most young men are quiet; in years of poverty, most young menare violent; it is not that the potential that Heaven has sent down to themchanges. They become violent because of what traps and drowns their mind/hearts. ” 30 Mencius thought that we cannot expect people not to steal if theyare starving. If people are forced to live in poverty they cannot be expectedto develop moral behavior.Mencius spent a lot of time talking about the economy. Poverty is thesource of all moral and social evil; poverty among the people is the faultof selfish rulers. The ideal state should provide economic well - being for itspeople. This will allow everyone to share in the wealth and allow everyoneto cultivate their inherent goodness. The government must not overtax thepeople. People must be allowed to provide for themselves and rulers shouldnot be taking tax money from them so as to enjoy a luxury that the peoplecannot dream of.Mencius proposed a new tax system where all the fields would be dividedinto nine sections. Individuals would farm their own fields and the cropsfrom the center field, the ninth, would be given to the ruler in taxes. 31 Thisway a year of bad harvests would affect the ruler as much as the people.Mencius was also the first to call for environmental awareness, the preservationof forests and fishing, and for diversified farming as ways to protectand enhance people ’ s livelihoods:If you want to put a government of humanity into effect, then simply returnto the basics. Plant mulberry trees in every household of five fields; thatway, fifty - year - olds can wear silk. If chickens, pigs, and dogs are raised, thenseventy - year - olds can eat meat. If you do not disturb the work of plantingand harvesting in each of one hundred fields, even a household that haseight mouths to feed will not go hungry. If you are careful about education,explaining the rightness of filial piety and respect for brothers, then the elderlywill not be carrying loads on the roads. It has always been that, when theelderly are able to wear silk and eat meat, and when the Chinese people arenot hungry nor cold, their ruler has become the emperor. 32A ruler who concentrates on enriching his people, improving the economy,and educating them in morality is well on his way to ruling all of China.Mencius says that the government should respect all classes; the governmentshould be loved and revered and provide models of good behavior.Governments should not be feared: the four evils of government are cruelty,oppression, injury, and meanness. The ruler must care for the people andbe a model to the people. Any ruler who does not rule properly does notdeserve the title “ ruler. ” The ruler ’ s primary concern must be the economybecause ordinary people cannot be expected to behave well in bad times.