왕양명의 良知論에서 ‘虛靈’의 위상과 작용

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the status of Xuling(虛靈) and its operation in Wang Yangming’s Liangzhi(良知) Theory. Liang zhi, which is based in Mencius’s philosophy, is redefined by Yangming as Mingjue(明覺), which is the nature of the Heavenly Mandate(天命之性) of the pure supreme goodness that emits its own bright light. Liang zhi as being empty, numinous, and unobscured(虛靈不昧) made Yangmingism a status of creating a subjective and dynamic philosophy, based on Liang zhi. Liang zhi’s function as being empty, numinous, and unobscured is characteristic of his writing, Inquiry on the Great Learning(大學問). Inquiry on the Great Learning tells self-cultivation(修身), which is told ‘the study to do good and to remove evil’ in the Great Learning, the order of study: Investing into things(格物), attaining the utmost knowledge(致知), making the thoughts sincere(誠意), and rectifying the heart(正心). In this series of the studies, Liangzhi, which is existing in the structure of consciousness, supervises the good and evil of thoughts, judges the right and wrong, and plays a subjective role and function by removing the bad and doing the good through Xu(虛) of ontological essence and Ling(靈) of epistemological function.