innate moral knowledge and ability
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesDefinition
innate moral conscience and capability; the intuitive knowledge of good and the inherent ability to act on it
formalA core philosophical concept from thinkers like Mencius, referring to a person's intrinsic moral sense that is not acquired through learning but is innate. Primarily used in classical Chinese philosophy discussions and related academic contexts.
Mèng孟
zǐ子
tí提
chū出
，
rén人
jiē皆
yǒu有
cè恻
yǐn隐
、
xiū羞
wù恶
、
cí辞
ràng让
、
shì是
fēi非
zhī之
xīn心
，
zhè这
biàn便
shì是
liáng良
zhī知
liáng良
néng能
。
Mencius proposed that all humans possess hearts of compassion, shame, courtesy, and a sense of right and wrong; this is innate moral knowledge and ability.
Xiāng相
xìn信
liáng良
zhī知
liáng良
néng能
de的
cún存
zài在
，
shì是
Zhōng中
guó国
xīn心
xìng性
zhé哲
xué学
de的
zhòng重
yào要
jī基
chǔ础
zhī之
yī一
。
Believing in the existence of innate moral knowledge and ability is one of the important foundations of Chinese philosophy of mind and nature.
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Zài在
miàn面
lín临
dào道
dé德
jué抉
zé择
shí时
，
tā他
xuǎn选
zé择
zūn遵
cóng从
zì自
jǐ己
de的
liáng良
zhī知
liáng良
néng能
。
When faced with a moral choice, he chose to follow his innate moral conscience and ability.