A Brief Probe Into Yangming’s Thought Of Good And Evil And Its Problems

The study of good and evil plays an important role in human beings’ pursuit of the meaning of their own existence.As an important figure in the history of Confucianism,Wang Yangming’s thought of good and evil is an extremely important part of his learning system and has the most realistic value.Wang Yangming essentially deepened the understanding of the human nature theory of Confucian school.He believed that human nature is no good and no evil,which is the supreme good.the supreme good is not experiential but transcendental.(断句)The nature of the supreme good requires people not to be attached to good thoughts.evil thoughts and things.The natural state of mind is also the internal basis for the realization of the sage,which is a moral ideal state.In the understanding of the good,Yang Ming regarded the good of Confucianism as a moral good,and stated that the pursuit of the moral ideal of Confucianism is to achieve the moral model:Sages.His reflections,based on theory of knowledge is to introduce the essence of Confucian kindness from knowledge-based path into moral nature.Yang Ming is not opposed to knoowledge,but to correct the wrong view of replacing virtue with knowledge,and insist that virtue is the essence of goodness,The realization of sage in Confucianism depend on whether the essence of virtue can be fully revealed.In the understanding of evil,Yang Ming explained the source and essence of evil from the perspective that the good and evil share the same origin.The deviation from the essential good,namely the supreme good,is evil,and the generation of evil is the function of Xin(mind-heart)and Oi.While elaborating "evil",Yang Ming emphasized the subjectivity of "Xin".He believed that human nature has a variety of possible tendencies,because Xin is vulnerable to danger,and human nature is uncertain and changeable.Yangming summed up and transcended the theories of evil since the Song and Ming Dynasties,which is of great significance in the history of thought.Tracing back to the origin of good and evil,Yang Ming believes that good and evil are both experiential expressions,and human nature has neither good nor evil in essence.Conscience,as Noumenon,is the moral origin of transcendent.Conscience is a kind of "supreme good" that transcends good and evil,and the nature of supreme good with the perspective of Being and Non-Being is neither Good nor Evil.From the forming process of good and evil,Good and evil are produced by the activities of Oi,which leads to the change of human nature.However,as the subject of activities,human beings have subjectivity,so good and evil are not only from the change of Oi,but also affected by people’s wareness.In Yangming’s view,it is reasonable to argue that good and evil are generated by Yi(意),or by Oi(气).The formation and changes of good and evil depend on Yi and Oi.From here,Yangming thought there are two key points to eliminate evil for good:one is sincerity;another is change of disposition.On the other hand,Yangming has always emphasized the unity of knowledge and action.Therefore,the theoretical division cannot lead to the division of Gongfu(工夫)and the time is only one.Sincerity is the change of temperament,and the change of temperament is also sincerity.