Noun explanation of Susie theory

Susie said that one of Mo Zhai's educational viewpoints during the Warring States period was the theory of human nature, which believed that human nature was not born, but was just like Susie to be dyed. That is, what kind of environment and education can make what kind of people. Therefore, we must be careful what we dye and choose what we dye.

Origin

Mo Zhai used plain silk and dyed silk as metaphors to illustrate human nature and its change and formation under education. On one occasion, when he saw dyeing silk, he was quite emotional: "Dyeing it in the sky is pale, dyeing it in the yellow is yellow, and the person who enters it changes its color, and it is only five colors when you enter it." Therefore, dyeing should not be careless. However, if you are not alone in dyeing silk, the country is also infected, and if you are not alone in the country, you are also infected. " [1]

Interpretation

In Mo Zhai's view, first of all, human nature is not innate, and human nature is just like a silk to be dyed. Secondly, what color dye vat you put on will become what color silk, that is, what kind of environment and education can make what kind of people. Therefore, we must be careful what we dye and choose what we dye.

Compared with Kong Qiu's theory of human nature, this thought is progressive in social significance, because it recognizes and expounds the role of education from the standpoint of equality of human nature.

since education is useful to all people, where is the function of education? Mo Zhai's social and political ideal is "to promote the benefits of the world and eliminate the harm of the world", one of which is to promote education, which advocates the establishment of a "universal love" society with equality and mutual assistance through "those who are powerful can help others through illness, those who have money can encourage others to share, and those who have a way can advise others to teach". Therefore, it is the social function of education to make people in the world "know righteousness" and thus realize the perfection of society.

His "Susi Theory" does explain to some extent that the environment, especially education, plays a major role in people's development.