왕양명의 심학(心學)과 공감

Abstract

The present study attempts to shed new light on Wang Yang-Ming’s(王陽明, 1472-1528) Mind-Heart Learning(心學) by using “empathy” as a key word. In order to review Wang Yang-Ming’s Mind-Heart Learning with the keyword of “empathy,” the study will first examine the empathetic nature of “Liang-zhi(良知)”, which is the essence of Wang Yang-Ming’s Mind-Heart Learning. The concept of “Liang-zhi” is closely related to Wang’s organic worldview, in which he sees the entire universe as one whole organism. In Wang’s philosophy, “Ren(仁)” means the the will to life : the virtue of nature that provides the basis of the unimpeded communication of life force among all beings in the universe. Thus, his philosophy emphasizes that “Ren(仁)” is the ceaseless and dynamic life-generating foundation that serves as the fundamental life force and principle that pervades nature and human beings. According to Wang, Ren(仁), which is the principle of life that creates and nurture the whole universe of sky, earth, and nature, is an innate quality of all human beings who exist as part of the nature. In this context, empathy can be seen as an essential feature that characterizes Wang’s Mind-Heart Learning(心學). According to Wang, there is a close relation between human nature and various emotional states or feelings which modern psychology or counseling psychology mainly deals with—anxiety, worry, pleasure, enjoyment, and sense of security. By making a close connection between the realization of good nature and emotion, Wang can be said to have integrated The essence of human nature and the essence of heart. In this way, his philosophy argues that people are led to act morally not by obligation or enforcement imposed on them by others but by vitality and joy belonging to the innate quality of human heart. Based on this basic understanding of “empathy” in Wang’s Mind-Heart Learning(心學), the present study will bring to the fore some aspects of empathy such as moral sensibility, driving force for self-fulfillment, integrated intelligence, and practical ways to realize innate goodness.