Wang Yangming's Notion Of Present Conscience

In Wang Yangming's philosophy of “conscience”,“present” is an important content,it means the current germination and presentation of conscience,it builds a bridge for conscience from ontology to presentation,also provides a starting point for the current recognition and implementation.In reality,individuals will inevitably be obscured by selfish desires,This brings some problems to the “present” of the conscience: First,can private desire be a constant and complete obstacle to the presentation of conscience? Second,what is the difference between the “present” and “ontology”of conscience? Third,different individuals are subject to different levels of selfish desires.Does this cause differences in the state of conscience presentation?In order to analyze the above problems,this paper distinguishes the three concepts:“self-sufficiency”,“fullness” and “completeness” of conscience.The “self-sufficiency”of conscience means moral knowledge Congenitally exist in conscience,it responds to Zhu Xi's claim that eliminate inner self-desires by learning the truth of foreign things.But Wang Yangming thinks that,individual conscience will not be completely obscured by selfish desires,and moral life can be achieved with the innate moral knowledge.The “fullness” of conscience means ontology as an innate foundation is in itself,the “completeness” of conscience means the state of full development and completion of this innate foundation.For the relationship between the “present” and“ontology”,there is no difference considering the “fullness” of conscience but realistic gap considering the “completeness”;For the present state of conscience,ordinary people who overcome and eliminate self-desires instantly is a temporary“fullness” not “completeness”.In addition,this paper will analyze the relationship between moral emotion and judgement based on life experience,points out the complexity of moral emotions and conflict of moral emotion and judgement,“Integration of knowing and doing” refers to the self-knowledge and practice of moral judgment rather than emotion.Finally,the “present” of conscience also plays an important role in the practice of implement conscience,Wang Yangming always emphasizes that,pratice is to be carried out with “present” of conscience,whether it is honing in matters or sitting quietly.