When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate
There are 8 modules in this course
This lecture series aims to explore our emotional landscape through the lens of the renowned Korean Confucian scholar, Seongho Yi Ik(星湖 李瀷, 1683- 1761) who lived through Joseon Dynasty, Korea. The Confucian project can be summarized as “Learning to be Human,” which involves not just biological development but also cultural and moral cultivation. Seongho emphasized the importance of emotional education as a crucial aspect of the Confucian cultivation program. Emotions play a significant role in understanding others and being understood, making them essential for navigating complex relationships and engaging with the world meaningfully. This series will delve into Seongho’s short yet profoundly insightful work on emotions, the New Compilation of the Four-Seven Debate (Sachil sinpyeon). His approach challenges us to think critically about our own emotional lives, how our emotions guide our moral choices, shape our relationships, and ultimately define who we become. By engaging with these lectures with curiosity and reflection, Seongho’s insights will not only enrich your understanding of Confucian moral psychology but also offer practical wisdom for leading a better life.
This week, we’re going to learn about Seongho Yi Ik’s early life and how his childhood experiences shaped his later thinking. We’ll also look at his contributions to Neo-Confucianism and Practical Learning, as well as the historical background of the Four-Seven Debate.
What's included
7 videos2 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
7 videos•Total 56 minutes
Opening for “How to Understand Our Emotions: Seongho’s New Proposal 1”•15 minutes
Seongho Yi Ik’s Life and Scholarship 1: Formative Years•7 minutes
Seongho Yi Ik’s Life and Scholarship 2: Maturity and Legacy•6 minutes
Background of the Four-Seven Debate •8 minutes
The Four-Seven Debate between Toegye Yi Hwang and Gobong Gi Dae-seung•6 minutes
The Human-Dao Debate between Ugye Seong Hon and Yulgok Yi Yi•7 minutes
Seongho Yi Ik’s Opinions on Toegye and Yulgok’s Four-Seven Theories•8 minutes
2 readings•Total 70 minutes
Course Introduction•10 minutes
Reading Materials for Week 1•60 minutes
1 assignment•Total 10 minutes
What have you learnt this week?•10 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 20 minutes
Self-Introduction•20 minutes
Zhu Xi’s Moral Psychology
Module 2•2 hours to complete
Module details
This week, we’re going to look at Zhu Xi’s theories of moral psychology, especially how he understood human nature, emotions, and the heartmind. We’ll also be exploring how these ideas help explain moral motivation and the cultivation of ethical behavior.
What's included
6 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
6 videos•Total 40 minutes
Moral Psychology and the Nature•7 minutes
Nature as Ground of Morality •6 minutes
Emotions and the Guidance and Motivation Problems•7 minutes
Zhu's Understanding of the Four Beginnings •6 minutes
Heartmind and the Accordance Problem•7 minutes
Heartmind as Process and Zhu’s Solution to the Accordance Problem•8 minutes
1 reading•Total 60 minutes
Reading Materials for Week 2•60 minutes
1 assignment•Total 10 minutes
What have you learnt this week?•10 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 30 minutes
Do we really have a “Nature”?•30 minutes
Seongho Yi Ik’s Moral Emotions in Lived Experience: Focusing on Comparison with Zhu Xi
Module 3•2 hours to complete
Module details
This week, we’re going to look at how Seongho Yi Ik reinterpreted Zhu Xi's theory of emotions by grounding it in everyday life and personal practice. We’ll also explore his unique view of emotions, especially how everyday emotions can grow into moral emotions through reflection and social resonance.
What's included
6 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
6 videos•Total 47 minutes
Opening & Background•9 minutes
Seongho’s Revision of Zhu Xi’s Interpretation of the Four Beginnings•10 minutes
How to Distinguish the Four from the Seven: Commiseration from Grief, Disdain from Dislike•9 minutes
The Seven Emotions Can Become Moral Emotions•12 minutes
Closing Remarks •1 minute
[+] More Details on Seongho and Zhu Xi's Moral Emotions•6 minutes
1 reading•Total 60 minutes
Reading Materials for Week 2•60 minutes
1 assignment•Total 10 minutes
What have you learnt this week?•10 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 30 minutes
Two Different Views on “Public Emotions”•30 minutes
Seongho Yi Ik’s Typology of Emotions
Module 4•2 hours to complete
Module details
This week, we’re going to look at Seongho Yi Ik’s perspectives on human emotions and how they relate to Confucian self-cultivation. We’ll also examine how the Four Beginnings and the Seven Emotions work together in his framework to guide moral life.
What's included
6 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
6 videos•Total 44 minutes
General Introduction•6 minutes
Categories of Emotions•6 minutes
The Four Beginnings vs. the Seven Emotions•8 minutes
The Intricacies of Emotions 1•5 minutes
The Intricacies of Emotions 2•12 minutes
Beyond the Four Beginnings and the Seven Emotions•7 minutes
1 reading•Total 60 minutes
Reading Materials for Week 4•60 minutes
1 assignment•Total 10 minutes
What have you learnt this week?•10 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 30 minutes
Complex Emotional Experiences in our Daily Life•30 minutes
Seongho Yi Ik on Compassion and Commiseration: The Dongche Model for Benevolence
Module 5•2 hours to complete
Module details
This week, we’re going to look at Seongho Yi Ik’s perspectives on compassion and commiseration and how they shape Confucian moral cultivation. We’ll also explore his “Dongche” model and how it connects emotions like compassion and grief to moral action and community.
What's included
6 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
6 videos•Total 36 minutes
General Introduction•4 minutes
Mencius’ Thought Experiment on Child-and-Well•6 minutes
Seongho’s Distinction between Compassion and Grief•6 minutes
Seongho’s Integration between Compassion and Grief•7 minutes
Seongho’s Contributions to neo-Confucianism•7 minutes
Seongho’s Sage•5 minutes
1 reading•Total 60 minutes
Reading Materials for Week 5•60 minutes
1 assignment•Total 10 minutes
What you have learnt this week?•10 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 30 minutes
How Does Emotion Lead to Moral Action?•30 minutes
Seongho Yi Ik’s on Shame and Disdain: The Mua Model for Righteousness
Module 6•2 hours to complete
Module details
This week, we’re going to look at Seongho Yi Ik’s perspectives on shame and disdain, and how they function in Confucian moral cultivation. We’ll also explore his “Mua” model and how these emotions help maintain moral integrity and a sense of righteousness.
What's included
6 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
6 videos•Total 43 minutes
General Introduction•8 minutes
Seongho on Shame and Disdain•8 minutes
Seongho’s Mua Model of Cultivation•9 minutes
Seongho’s Choice of Disdain and Commiseration•6 minutes
The Role of Shame and Disdain•5 minutes
[+] More Details on Dongche (同體) and Mua (毋我) Model•6 minutes
1 reading•Total 60 minutes
Reading Materials for Week 6•60 minutes
1 assignment•Total 10 minutes
What have you learnt this week?•10 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 30 minutes
Is Feeling of Disdain Truly Righteous?•30 minutes
Yi Ik’s Presentation of Wisdom in the New Compilation of the Four-Seven Debate
Module 7•2 hours to complete
Module details
This week, we’re going to explore Seongho Yi Ik’s views on the Fourth Beginnings, especially shi-fei (affirming/denying), and their place in Confucian emotion theory. We’ll also consider Seongho’s interpretation of affirming/denying and its role in moral psychology. Lastly, we’ll think about how wisdom works in his framework as a meta-cognitive process that completes and stores moral experiences.
What's included
6 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
6 videos•Total 47 minutes
Introduction: Emotions and the Four-Seven Debate•11 minutes
Relating, Contrasting, and Analogizing Beginnings Feelings•5 minutes
The Faculty of Knowing and the Beginning of Wisdom•4 minutes
The Two Meanings of Wisdom and the Storehouse Analogy•8 minutes
Reflecting on the Storehouse Analogy•11 minutes
[+] More Details on the Beginning of Wisdom•7 minutes
1 reading•Total 60 minutes
Reading Materials for Week 7•60 minutes
1 assignment•Total 10 minutes
What have you learnt this week?•10 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 30 minutes
Emotional Ambiguity•30 minutes
Seongho Yi Ik on the Role of the Four Beginnings
Module 8•3 hours to complete
Module details
This week, we’re going to examine Seongho Yi Ik’s perspectives on the Four Beginnings and how they contribute to Confucian moral cultivation. We’ll explore the differences between the Four Beginnings and the Seven Emotions, especially in terms of their public (gong) and private (sa) characteristics. We’ll also look at Seongho’s argument that the Four Beginnings guide and control the Seven Emotions to prevent harmful or immoral behavior.
What's included
7 videos1 reading2 assignments1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
7 videos•Total 55 minutes
Introduction: Emotions and Ethical Cultivation•5 minutes
The Nature and Role of the Four Beginnings in Confucian Ethics•9 minutes
The Role of the Four Beginnings in Guiding the Seven Emotions•11 minutes
Human Mind and the Moderating Power of the Four Beginnings•14 minutes
Seongho’s Vision for Cultivating the Four Beginnings •6 minutes
[+] More Details on the Role of the Four Beginnings•6 minutes
Continuing your journey in Seongho's New Proposal•5 minutes
1 reading•Total 60 minutes
Reading Materials for Week 8•60 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
[Final Test] What have you learnt in this course?•50 minutes
What have you learnt this week?•10 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 20 minutes
Congratulations on completing your first step into emotion theories of Korean philosophy!•20 minutes
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.
Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) was established in 1398 as the highest national educational institute in the early years of Joseon Dynasty in Korea. At present with the support of the world-renowned global company Samsung, SKKU is leading the development of higher education in Korea. SKKU actively encourages international collaboration through developing cutting-edge research and educational programs with its global partners.
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.