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    Mencius's own text shows Xuan substituted the ox for a sh... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→King Xuan is capable of having compassion for his people

    Mencius's own text shows Xuan substituted the ox for a sheep, suggesting avoidance of discomfort rather than extension of care.

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    1 reason for
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    Reasons For

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    Reason for
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    • 1.King Xuan's substitution of ox for sheep demonstrates deliberate choice, suggesting conscious avoidance of witnessing the ox's suffering.
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    • 2.If Xuan's motivation were genuine compassion extension, he would not have needed to avoid the sight—the care would feel natural, not burdensome.
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    • 3.Mencius's praise focuses on Xuan's capacity for compassion itself, not on consistent moral behavior, implying potential rather than actualized virtue.
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    Reasons Against

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    • 1.Discomfort avoidance and care extension are not mutually exclusive: avoiding emotional pain at witnessing suffering can motivate compassionate action.
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    • 2.Xuan's substitution itself constitutes an extension of care—he spared the ox's life based on empathetic response, the core of Mencian virtue.
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    • 3.Mencius explicitly uses this case to argue for innate moral capacity; misreading it as hypocrisy contradicts his entire pedagogical point about human nature.
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    Virtue Ethics1 linkedMoral Responsibility1 linked

    Related

    Discomfort avoidance and care extension are not mutually exclusive: avoiding emo...If Xuan's motivation were genuine compassion extension, he would not have needed...King Xuan is capable of having compassion for his peopleKing Xuan's substitution of ox for sheep demonstrates deliberate choice, suggest...
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    Mencius explicitly uses this case to argue for innate moral capacity; misreading...Mencius's praise focuses on Xuan's capacity for compassion itself, not on consis...Xuan's substitution itself constitutes an extension of care—he spared the ox's l...

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