A Reinterpretation of Argument between Mencius and Gaozi

Around the topics like “how is kindness formed?” “is human nature kind?” “does man have the fixed nature?” “what is the fixed nature of man on earth?” and “does human nature only have the significance of life?”,Mencius and Gaozi conducted argument on human nature as willow, human nature as rushing water, life as nature, and inside or outside righteousness. In the process of their argument, Gaozi fully expressed his view that human nature had no distinction between evil and kindness and it was determined by the outside world. And Mencius held that human nature was kind and it was determined by the inside righteousness.