Table of contents : Contents Acknowledgments Introduction 1. The Ideological Background of the Mencian Discussion of Human Nature 2. A Matter of Taste: Qi (Vital Energy) and the Tending of the Heart (Xin) in Mencius 2A2 ALAN K. L. CHAN 3. Mencius and a Process Notion of Human Nature 4. Biology and Culture in the Mencian View of Human Nature 5. Mengzi and Gaozi on Nei and Wai 6. Xin and Moral Failure: Notes on an Aspect of Mencius’ Moral Psychology 7. Understanding Words and Knowing Men 8. Between Family and State: Relational Tensions in Confucian Ethics 9. Casuistry and Character in the Mencius 10. Mencius, Xunzi, and Dai Zhen 11. The Nature and Historical Context of the Mencius 12. Mengzi as Philosopher of History 13. Mencius and an Ethics of the New Century Contributors Index