View source for Philosophy:Xin (concept)

In [[Philosophy:Chinese philosophy|Chinese philosophy]], '''xin''' can refer to one's "disposition" or "feelings" ({{zh|c=心 |p=xīn}}), or to one's confidence or trust in something or someone ({{zh|c=信 |p=xìn}}). Literally, ''xin'' (心) refers to the physical heart, though it is sometimes translated as "mind" as the ancient Chinese believed the heart was the center of human [[Cognition|cognition]]. For this reason, it is also sometimes translated as "heart-mind". It has a connotation of intention, yet can be used to refer to long-term goals.<ref>Shun, Kwong Loi, "Mencius", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2010 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = <http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2010/entries/mencius/></ref> [[Biography:Xun Kuang|Xunzi]], an important early [[Philosophy:Confucianism|Confucian]] thinker, considered ''xin'' (心) to be cultivated during one's life, in contrast to innate qualities of ''[[Philosophy:Nature#Eastern civilization and the philosophical question of nature|xing]]'' ({{zh|c=性 |p=xìng}}), or human nature.<ref>Robins, Dan, "Xunzi", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2008 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = <http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2008/entries/xunzi/></ref>
A Daoist view, specifically from the philosopher [[Biography:Zhuang Zhou|Zhuangzi]], understands ''xin'' (心) as being socialized, with environmental pressures influencing personal intentions, sometimes in such a way that can provoke disagreements and conflict. While a Confucian might take heart that ''xin'' (心) may be cultivated in order to develop ''[[Philosophy:De (Chinese)|de]]'', or moral virtue, Zhuangzi considered this socialization as detrimental to one's personal nature, somewhat along the lines of the later French philosopher, [[Biography:Jean-Jacques Rousseau|Jean-Jacques Rousseau]]. However, unlike Rousseau, [[Biography:René Descartes|René Descartes]] and many other Enlightenment-era European philosophers following the classical example of [[Biography:Plato|Plato]], emotion and reason were not considered separate entities, but rather as coextensive; ''xin'' (心) itself is a concept that is as much cognitive as emotional.<ref>Hansen, Chad, "Taoism", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2012 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = <http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2012/entries/taoism/></ref><ref>Ivanhoe, P.J., & Van Norden, B.W. (Eds.) (2001). Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy, 2nd Ed. Hackett Publishing Co.: Indianapolis, p. 393</ref>

==See also==
*''[[Philosophy:Qing (concept)|Qing]]'', a related concept

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Chinese philosophy}}

[[Category:Chinese philosophy]]
[[Category:Philosophical concepts]]
[[Category:Self]]
[[Category:Confucianism]]
[[Category:Taoism]]



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