This paper examined Toegye' view of human nature from an
anthropological standpoint. This is for a more vivid understanding
and appreciation of the true self and the idea of life that he
pursued. The content and direction of humanistic education can
only be caught through these discussions. Toegye distinguished
the self from the orignial and the non-original, concentrating
academic and practical attention on the realization of the former.
Moral nature is the confucian name for the orignial self. From
there, Toegye found the spirit of benevolence, righteousness,
courtesy, and truth. This spirit does not only aim at the realization
of social existence. It ultimately has a universal ideal to complete
the world and all things at the highest level. Toegye's theory of
self-cultivation corresponds to a academic methodology for
realizing these ideals.