INDIAN AND CHINESE VIEWS
OF HUMAN NATURE
AS HEDONISTIC


Carvaka (Classical Indian Skepticism and Materialism)

The self = the body

Evidence: such expressions as "I am fat"

Contrary evidence: such expressions as "My body"

Carvaka explanation of the contrary evidence: such expressions are metaphors

Carvaka moral views: hedonism (the very meaning of ethical words like
"should," "ought to," "is commendable," etc. is to be understood as tied to an action's being pleasure-producing.)

Carvaka debunking of Hinduism: priests want money.

Carvaka attack on inference:

No experience can warrant the universality required; nothing can justify a claim of pervasion (wherever F there G, for example, wherever smoke there fire.)

The problem of inductive generalization.

The Kamasutra

The four traditional "ends" (goals) of life according to mainstream Hinduism:

1. kama (pleasure, esp. sexual pleasure)
2. artha (wealth, also power)
3. dharma (duty)
4. moksa ("liberation," religious salvation)


Value varies according to "stage of life."  Right pursuit of pleasure need not conflict with pursuit of wealth, duty, and religious salvation.  To become skilled in sex, for example, we learn the "craft," both to maximize pleasure and not to conflict with the other goals.

Hsun Tzu's Authoritarinism
Human beings are by nature prone to evil ("the natural feelings of man are very unlovely").

Human beings develop virtues through training (enforced socialization).

NB. The capacity of human beings to become good is distinct from their natural dispositions, which are selfish, combative, envious, lecherous, and hostile.