The Research About Luo Zenan's Philosophy

Luo Zenan was not only one of famous Xiangjun troops'leaders but also a key spokesman for ethics of later Qing danasty.Up to now, however, few people have done research on him, especially on his philosophy thought. He had involved himself in Cheng-Zhu's ethics for nearly two decades and carefully read works of many famous pioneers in this field, such as Zhou Dunyi, Zhang Zai, Cheng Ying, Cheng Yi and Zhu Xi etal. He had elucidated some basic ethical categories and propositions and finally established his own philosophy system.He firmly believed in ethics all his life. In principles and spirit theory, he had enriched and developed Zhu Xi's comprehension in some ethical categories such as"the Great ultimate","principles and spirit"etal and had proposed the thought of"everything originates from the Great ultimate". As for the relationship between principles and spirit, he thought the two are individual and meanwhile dependent on each other, which also means they are both opposite and unitary. In addition, Luo had summarized the roles of principles and spirit in the formation of everythings in the world into"everything derives from spirit, and principles is in the charge."In mind and nature theory, firstly, Luo had unconciously inherited the counterpart theory of Song-Ming ethics. He thought that human's nature is kind. The proposition"nature is spirit"had become ontological proof for his theory of"nature is kind". In the defination of"nature of temperament", Luo differed from Zhu Xi. Secondly, he had proposed propositions such as"Mind is in charge of the body."and"mind supplies recommendation for principles". Finally, he had investigated"mind and nature"in more spacious room containing"body","mind","actions"and"daoism". He emphasized that the principles is the source of mind and nature, which had well combined theory of mind and nature with the theory of principles and spirit. In the theory of"investgating things", he had used the method of"extending knowledge through investigating thing"when he discussed"seeking Li"and combined ethics with congnizance, which had embodied the essential characteristics of ethical thought.In the aspect of morality, he had discussed"kindness","etiquette and music",and"loyalty and benefit"in detail. He suggested that people should love each other. But more emphasis was put on the discrimination of love, which showed Luo's rank limit. As for loyalty and benefit, Luo had unilaterlly emphasized that seeking benefit is harmful.