A Discussion on the Moral Role of Negative Emotions: Focusing on Dasan Jeong Yagyong

Since Mengzi, who argued that the four basic emotions demonstrate the inherent goodness of human nature, Confucianism has emphasized the moral significance of emotions in ethical behavior. However, negative emotions such as jealousy, arrogance, and dissatisfaction disrupt internal harmony and strain relationships, raising questions about their role in moral cultivation.
In Confucian thought, emotions have traditionally been linked to qi (氣) or physical temperament, complicating the concept of emotional autonomy. However, Jeong Yagyong (Dasan), an influential 18th-century Korean philosopher, challenged this view. He rejected the idea that temperament significantly influences morality, diverging from Neo-Confucian interpretations.
This presentation will explore Dasan's perspective on negative emotions, examining how he reframed their ethical significance and offered a more individualized approach to moral self-development. The analysis contributes to broader discussions on the moral role of emotions in Confucian ethics, offering new insights into the intersection of emotion, temperament, and morality in East Asian philosophy.