陸九淵の性説をめぐって : 朱子学との比較を兼ねて

Lu Jiuyuan, the Southern Song Confucian philosopher, is renowned as the main rival of Zhu Xi. While Zhu Xi's philosophy aims to awaken individuals to their intrinsic goodness, Lu Jiuyuan formulates his theory of human nature without delving into complex philosophical concepts. In Lu Jiuyuan's theory, the concept of original human nature (性) is linked to Li (理), the underlying principle and order of nature, a gift equally bestowed upon all by heaven. This is considered the most fundamental characteristic of human beings. Lu Jiuyuan sees Li as a principle containing an inherent moral tendency, which can spontaneously become the driving force for correct actions. This sense of morality is also referred to as Xin (心). On the other hand, Zhu Xi introduces forward the concept of material nature (氣質之性), which encompasses all human endowments, including both metaphysical and physical elements. While Zhu Xi likewise believes that the intrinsic nature of the ultimate goodness resides within humans, he posits that this nature itself lacks the internal drive for self-realization; thus, the actualization of this intrinsic goodness requires individuals to actively explore and practice it. The difference in Zhu and Lu's theories of human nature extends to differences in their ideas of moral cultivation.