"The Trees of the Niu Mountain" by Mengzi, read it and answer the following questions with at least one detailed paragraph each.

1) Explain what the metaphor of the mountain means.

2) Does the author think human nature is basically "good" (cooperative and trustworthy) or "bad" (uncooperative and untrustworthy) or some other alternative? Do you agree? Explain your answer.

3) In ethical terms, what are some of the forces that can undermine a beautiful soul or character? Explain your answer.

4) Given the date and source of this reading, what can we conclude about the possibility that some core values are broadly shared among people in diverse cultures? How could such "core values" arise?