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Frontiers of Philosophy in China

ISSN 1673-3436

ISSN 1673-355X(Online)

CN 11-5743/B

Postal Subscription Code 80-983

Front Phil Chin    2012, Vol. 7 Issue (2) : 217-243    https://doi.org/10.3868/s030-001-012-0013-9
research-article
The Manifestation Range of Innately Good Knowledge and Ability, and the Danger of Separation: On Zhuzi’s Question about Understanding Words
DING Ji()
Department of Philosophy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
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Abstract

Zhuzi (Zhu Xi), Zhang Nanxuan and Lü Donglai continued a discussion begun by Hu Wufeng and his disciples on the subject of “knowing the form of benevolence,” and “seeking for a true mind in an absent one.” One result of their discussion was to make people realize that innately good knowledge and ability are not only manifested in loving one’s parents and respecting one’s elders, but also in the simple acts of drinking when thirsty and eating when hungry. This generated the idea of “manifestation range of innately good knowledge and ability.” However, another conclusion of this discussion claimed that if the desire to drink and eat or the king of Qi’s grudging an ox are included in this range, there would be a danger of viewing innately good knowledge and ability merely as inborn human nature or instinct. This discussion reveals an unsteady relationship between innately good knowledge and ability and the feeling of commiseration, which are sometimes united and sometimes separate.

Keywords innately good knowledge and ability      knowing the form of benevolence      sprout      seeking for a mind in an absent one      inborn human nature      king of Qi’s grudging an ox     
Corresponding Author(s): DING Ji,Email:dakuihuashu@126.com   
Issue Date: 05 June 2012
 Cite this article:   
DING Ji. The Manifestation Range of Innately Good Knowledge and Ability, and the Danger of Separation: On Zhuzi’s Question about Understanding Words[J]. Front Phil Chin, 2012, 7(2): 217-243.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fpc/EN/10.3868/s030-001-012-0013-9
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fpc/EN/Y2012/V7/I2/217
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