Norm And Natural

The proposition of Guo Xiang's ideas of Self-transformation begins with the abandonment of the theory of "taking nihil as noumenon" and "taking being as noumenon". He disagrees with Wang Bi' opinion of "taking nihil as noumenon", especially criticizes his idea of "something comes from nihil" which involves in the Theory of Cosmogony, and at the same time, he also disagrees with Pei Wei who takes being as noumenon, and then build up his own system of Self-transformation which takes "the state of metaphysics" as noumenon. He argues that everything self-transforms in "the state of metaphysics", and self-develop as well as being causes of one another. It is that everything is a cause of another makes co-existence of the universe as a whole possible. Although things "self-satisfied and self-transformed", they don't randomly develop, they develop in accordance with "nature and "destiny". The "nature" of things are inborn, everything has its own nature which can't be avoided or changed, it is the main cause which leads to the changes of everything. While "destiny" implies the chances of everything and the inevitability shown with its nature, it is also "inevitable". Guo Xiang believes everything should fully develop within the range that "nature" allows, and satisfy with the limitations its "destiny" gives, meet its nature and try its best to reach the peak and perfection of its self-existence. As long as we can try to do something in current society according to our own nature, fully develop our nature (You Wai), we then can gain the liberty of our spirit (Ming Nei) at the same time. He testified the integration of Social morals and spiritual liberty by the unity of You Wai and Ming Nei, and testified the existent and development of Social morals are of nature by means of Self-transformation, and also confirmed the justifiability of Social morals on the basis of the reality at the same time. Therefore he believes everyone should satisfy with his own nature, live an unrestrained life not outside of the Social morals, but in it.Based on the above ideas, Guo Xiang built up his ethical system. He proposes "moral", "truth" and "manner", "moral" is the fundamental of the success of one's business and of the mergence of everything. Let things be themselves is "moral". While "truth" refers to a kind of state in which one is natural and sincere, does nothing in order to be in line with one's nature, to remain the state of "truth" is to do everything according to the nature, to forget right and wrong, cast sumptuousness away and pursue the actualities. The ways of actions in social lives corresponding with the natural feeling are "manners". Guo Xiang objects the false manners which only pay attention to the forms but harm human feelings, he thinks moral principles are implied within the nature of humans, to gain moral is to do things according to the nature. So the accomplishment of morals can attribute to the accomplishment of one's nature. Guo Xiang believes, though the nature of things can't be changed, it is the later accomplishment that can activate the potentiality of one's nature. As long as one stops one's desire to expand, and does everything thoughtlessly in line with the nature, then the potential ability and character inside each person's nature can be discovered. The saints written by Guo Xiang have the features of the saints of Taoism and Confucianism. The saints rule the world with the theory of Self-transformation, do everything in line with the nature, thence the empire is of stability and peace. While the saints do things in accordance with their nature and without intentions, so they did many things and remained carefree like hermits living in hills. Guo Xiang hopes that the kings afterwards don't envy the saints of their events, but do things in line with the nature. Therefore, they can keep the empire peaceful. "Satisfy with one's nature and be self-satisfied" is the natural conclusion from Guo Xiang' Self-transformation. In his opinion, the tragedies of eras and circumstances of one's life and such can't be avoided, can't be defied, one can only let it be, and take them as a given destiny. So, each class of the society should satisfy with their own nature, finish their own duties, obey the natural laws, and not concern their cycles of lives. He believes as long as people (especially the kings) can all satisfy with their nature and be self-satisfied, then the society can gain its harmoy and individuals can be carefree. And satisfy with one's nature and be self-satisfied rest on not "losing one's self", "each satisfies with his own nature".Guo Xiang's philosophy is a breakthrough in contrast to the complicated, decaying classic researches of the Confucianism ever since the Han Dynasty. And later both Buddhism from Tang Dynasty and the Rationalism from Song Dynasty all obtained some nutrient. He introduced Confucianism into Daoism, had a foothold in Social morals, and found a rest place of souls for the people. Developing the metaphysics ever since Wang Bi to its peak, solved all the questions the metaphysics raised, and reflected the realities of society, embodied the spirits of eras. However, his philosophy is also beyond reality, and didn't solve the specific everyday problems, therefore, Social morals and the nature had become a sort of blab at last, and didn't finish their political functions.