Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No.12, 2014

On Knowing How in Morality and Metaphysics—An Exploration of Gilbert Ryle and Wang Yangming

(Abstract)

Yu Zhenhua

Consideration of Wang Yangming’s theories of the unity of knowledge and action and of innate or intuitive knowledge against the background of the debate between intellectualism and anti-intellectualism in contemporary Western philosophy shows that the “knowing how” of morality constitutes its core. An analysis based on the three dimensions of activity/action, intelligence and ability in Ryle’s concept of knowing how shows that the knowing how of morality consists of both practical knowledge of moral norms, which needs to be expressed through practice involving the unity of body and mind, and practical, stable, consistent, active, and lively practical intelligence. Wang Yangming’s theories of the unity of knowledge and action and intuitive knowledge relate to and intertwine with his idea of the oneness of all things. In the metaphysical framework of the morality of the oneness of all things, the knowing how of morality is raised to the level of the knowing how of morality-metaphysics. As practical-metaphysical intelligence, this form of knowing how directs us not only to the domain of human morality but also to the whole universe as a moral community.