Dasan Jeong Yagyong on Emotions and the Pursuit of Sagehood

Abstract

AbstractDasan Jeong Yagyong (1762–1836) spent much of his life trying to understand the role emotions play in stimulating both moral and immoral behavior. He did not limit his investigation of moral psychology to the standard list of Seven Emotions but also looked at such emotions as resentment and apprehension. He concluded that in order to ensure our emotions direct us to act appropriately, we need to cultivate an attitude of caution and apprehension. Grounded in such an attitude, our heart-mind will control and integrate the inclinations (which he believes constitute human nature) and emotions which inspire us to act selflessly.