Abstract

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Title:: “Mind” as “Cognition”:Cognitive Frame, Social Facts,and Value-Adding Capacity

Keywords:: nothing outside the mind; cognitive frame; social facts; value-adding capacity

Abstract:: On the basis of the great enlightenment he experienced at Longchang(known as Longchang wudao), Wang Yangming proposed the notion of “nothing outside the mind” which is the foundation of his theory of heart/mind. In this article, from the perspective of the modern science of cognition, we reconceptualize the notion of “nothing outside of the mind” and argue that “mind” means cognition. People are different in their cognitive ability, and thus the same thing may look different in the eyes of different observers. The differences lead to the variance of the perceived “facts” by the lens of “cognitive frames”. That is to say, the same thing may show different images, values and meanings to different observers. It is from the cognitive perspective that mind is regarded as cognition. We also argue that only through improving the level of social and personal cognitions can the value and significance of Yangming’s theory of “nothing outside of mind” be understood and thus brought into full play.