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性恶

性惡
xìng'è
noun

Meanings

  1. 1 the doctrine that human nature is evil (Xunzi)
  2. 2 innate badness of human nature

Examples

HSK 5
按照性恶的观点，人需要礼法来约束。
Ànzhào xìng'è de guāndiǎn, rén xūyào lǐfǎ lái yuēshù.
According to the 'nature is evil' view, people need ritual and law to restrain them.
HSK 7-9
荀子主张性恶论。
Xúnzǐ zhǔzhāng xìng'è lùn.
Xunzi advocated the 'nature is evil' theory.
HSK 7-9
性恶和性善是中国哲学的经典争论。
Xìng'è hé xìngshàn shì Zhōngguó zhéxué de jīngdiǎn zhēnglùn.
'Nature is evil' versus 'nature is good' is a classic debate in Chinese philosophy.

Tips

history
Xunzi (荀子, c. 310-235 BCE) argued that humans are born with selfish desires and only become moral through education and ritual. Directly opposes Mencius's 性善 (innately good) position - the classic Warring States debate on human nature.

Stroke Order

性 xìng
恶 è