An Interpretation of Confucian View of “Sentiment and Disposition”

As a kernel issue of Confucian thought, the issue of sentiment-disposition is closely related with a world view of “Man as an integral part of Nature”. Ever since the beginning of Confucianism, the social-moral norms have been set on the foundation of human sentiment and disposition life, and through sentiment activity the probing of human nature and even the existence of “Mandate of Heaven”, which constitute a mainline of Confucian development in the past two thousand years and more, although there are difference in morphology and controversy. This dimension of emphasizing sentimental life and the pursuit of its metaphysical being is quite differed from Western academic view of its mainstream. After critical reflection and modern elucidation, it can enrich and heighten people’s experience of their psychic life. The idea of “for neutralization” developed thereafter can be used as ideological basis to coordinate various social contradictions and even the relation between humans and natural ecology in the current world.