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    Carmelics

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    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    Home/Original/inverse
    See Original
    Inverse View

    It is not the case that Mencius's own text shows Xuan substituted the ox for a sheep, suggesting avoidance of discomfort rather than extension of care.

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 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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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 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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