감정은 내가 소유한 것인가 - 순자 성정론의 인식론적 지평과 의의 -

Abstract

This present study aims to explore the epistemological ground of the theoretical framework of human nature, or dispositions, in Xunzi’s philosophy. Special attention is drawn to Xunzi’s dictum, “Emotions are not what I possess.” This striking statement has rarely been investigated by modern Chinese Philosophers, since the standard interpretation of the phrase altered the Chinses term ‘情(qing, emotions)’ into ‘積(ji, accumulation of learning),’ following the suggestion of Wang Niansun 王念孫(1744-1832). I delve into the problems of the interpretation deeply rooted in the above-mentioned collation after scrutinizing the philosophical context of Xunzi’s statement per se. In ancient China, it was widely believed that emotion as well as thinking (affect and cognition) takes place in response to external stimuli, which operate on mutual resonance (ganying 感應) of 氣(Qi). The fourth-century BCE Confucian philosophy had an epistemological ground that a certain emotion occurs as a mechanical interaction to a certain Qi. In this context, early Confucian thinkers consequently ask an ethical question as to whether or not moral emotions are human natural dispositions. Furthermore, the dictum that “Emotions are not what I possess, but they are manageable (to be expressed in an appropriate manner)” offers new insight into emotions: they are channels to express oneself and communicate with others. In this scenario, Xunzi makes it possible to artfully control the expression of emotion rather than spontaneously responding to the corresponding Qi. The Qi resonance theory facilitates the cognitive process constituted by emotions’ unexpressed state (weifa 未發) and expressed state (yifa 已發). In this process, there still remains a possibility that one can objectify one’s own experience of emotion in the locus known as the mind (xin 心). According to Xunzi, the mind has the following functions: cognition (zhi 知) and consideration (lu 慮). Given its contrasting spontaneous and inhibiting aspects, the mind serves to contemplate and control emotional expression. Hence, the mind is conceived of as an artificial effort in response to natural emotions.