Title

A New Interpretation of Wang Yang-ming’s Thesis of “No Wu (Thing) outside Hsin (Mind)

Author

Yiu-ming Fung

Genre

Article  

Pages

65-85

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Language

Chinese

Key words

No wu outside hsin, subjective idealism, pantheism, new theory of ti and yung, theory of intentionality, internal realism, theory of ling-qiao

Abstract

       In contrast to Chu Hsi’s theory of ke-wu (the investigation of things) Wang yang-ming claims that there is no wu (thing/act) outside hsin (mind/heart). Although the comtrastis obvious, a reasonable and acceptable interpretation of Wang Yang-ming’s thesis in this regard has yet to appear. Some previous interpretations based on Berkeley’s subjective idealism, Spinoza’s pantheism. Husserl’s theory of intentionality, Mou Tsung-san’s Theory of ti and yung (substance and functioning), Putnam’s internal realism, respectively, are discussed in this article. After a serious consideration of the strength and the weakness of these interpretations, I elaborate a new interpretation called “the theory of ling-qiao” (Intelligent hollo w) which is more comprehensive and cogent. Under this interpretation, we can also explain the fact that the main idea of Wang Yang-ming’s thesis is borrows from religious Taoism.