A Discussion of Heaven Essay Questions

1. What does Xunzi mean when he says that “Heaven’s way is constant”? Does that conflict with his claim that if you “[r]espond to it with good government, good fortune will result [and if you] respond to it with disorder, misfortune will result”? Why or why not?

2. What role do the orderly and disorderly reigns of the sage-king Yu and the tyrant Jie play in Xunzi’s argument?

3. What, according to Xunzi, should rulers pay attention to in predicting the future of their society? Why? What shouldn’t they pay attention to, and why shouldn’t they pay attention to it?