The Confucian thinker known by the Chinese name Meng Ke is Mencius.
Mencius was a major Confucian philosopher of the Warring States period. His name is commonly rendered Mengzi, meaning “Master Meng,” while Meng Ke is his personal name in traditional accounts. The Latinized English form “Mencius” became standard in Western scholarship.
He is especially associated with the view that human beings possess innate moral tendencies, often illustrated through the famous example of a person instinctively rescuing a child who is about to fall into a well. Mencius argued that these beginnings must be cultivated through education and practice.
Mencius also defended the people’s welfare as a condition of legitimate government. His ideas later became central to Neo-Confucian education, particularly after the Mencius was included among the Four Books. He is often contrasted with Xunzi, who emphasized the need for ritual and deliberate training.