The problem of the benevolent nature of heaven in the philosophy of Mencius

This article examines the concept of Heaven and its ethical-ontological status in the philosophy of Mencius. The author analyzes Mencius’ views on the role of Heaven in establishing cosmological order. It emphasizes the contradiction between the ethical pursuit of the good and the reality of the world, which is in a constant change of phases due to oscillation between good and evil. Strategies for explaining this problem in the works of foreign authors are reviewed. In addition to the text of “Mencius” itself, this article analyzes such sources as the “Tao-te Ching” and the “Lun Yu”. The author highlights the neutral nature of Heaven and the impossibility of conceiving it as unambiguously good. It is emphasized that in the philosophy of Mencius everyone can find support depending on their psychological state and find harmony with themselves. The findings of the study contribute to a better understanding of the interaction between the ethical and ontological components of Mencius’ philosophy.