Title: Analysis of knowledge and action in Wang Yangming's letters in Chuan Xi Lu,Response to Gu Dongqiao
Abstract: This paper discusses Wang Yangming's views toward unity of knowledge and practice. Frequently,Yangming's thought began with doubt of Zhu Xi's discourse. Zhu Xi used Great Learning to construct knowledge,and the study of objects to seek principles,resulting in knowledge; sincerity is part of action,thus in terms of knowledge before sincerity in Great Learning,there is knowledge before action. However,Yangming disagreed,in turn asserting that there is unity of knowledge and practice. From the correspondence in Response to Gu Dongqiao,this paper evaluates the issue of knowledge and action again to see which is correct. The main problem points include whethererudition and inquiryin Doctrine of the Mean refer to knowledge or action,whether pre-Qin Confucians emphasized learning of knowledge,whether it is in the first or second place? Then,the original intent of the Four Books is discussed to consider whether Zhu Xi or Wang Yangming conformed to the original intent in their understanding of knowledge and action,and whether their understanding of knowledge and action had any common points. This paper will analyze these points.
Publication Year: 2015
Publication Date: 2015-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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