2. A Being of Logos
As explained in the Theory of the Original Image, within the Original Image, Logos refers to a product or a new being appearing through inner give and receive action, centering on the purpose of creation. Here, the purpose of creation is based on Heart; therefore, Logos is based on Heart.
The universe was created through Logos and performs its movements in accordance with Logos; in other words, the universe is supported by Logos. Human beings also were created through Logos, and their lives should be in complete accordance with Logos. Thus, the human being is a being of logos.
Logos came into being within the Sungsang of the Original Image through the give and receive action between the Inner Sungsang and Inner Hyungsang, centered on purpose. Since “reason” plays a particularly important role in the Inner Sungsang, and “law” plays an equally important role in the Inner Hyungsang, Logos is referred to as “reason-law,” the unity of reason and law. Thus, a human being, as a being of logos, is a being of reason-law. Since the characteristic feature of reason is freedom and the characteristic feature of law is necessity, a being of logos refers to a being in which freedom and necessity are united. This means that human beings are both normative beings, living according to laws (or norms), and rational beings, behaving according to their free will.
It is commonly held today that since human beings are free, they should not be restricted by any laws or norms. True freedom, however, consists in obeying certain laws―or, more precisely―in willingly observing certain laws. People may think that “freedom” allows them to ignore laws, but this becomes license, rather than freedom, and results in nothing but chaos and destruction. For example, a train, as long as it remains on its tracks, can run rapidly or move slowly, go forward or move backward. If, however, it leaves the tracks, it will not move at all. In other words, the train has freedom only insofar as it remains on the tracks. If it derails, it will destroy itself and may cause damage to people and property.
In like manner, people can enjoy genuine freedom as long as they live in accordance with certain (moral and ethical) norms. Confucius said in The Analects, “At seventy I followed my heart’s desire without overstepping the line.” 2 He meant that at the age of seventy he was able to become a perfected being of logos, in which free will and law are united.
Since human beings are beings of logos, their original nature is to try and follow the law. The law that they should follow is the same law that operates throughout the entire universe; specifically, it is the law of give and receive action. When Logos was formed in the Original Image, it was motivated by Heart, which is the root of love. Therefore, originally, the law of the universe is motivated by Heart, and the purpose of the law is the actualization of love.
As mentioned in Ontology, a family is a miniaturization of the orderly system of the cosmos. Therefore, just as the universe exhibits vertical and horizontal order, so too, the family is, likewise, endowed with vertical and horizontal order. The norms (values) that correspond to these two dimensions of order are the vertical norm and the horizontal norm. The vertical norm in the family is the norm for the relationship between parents and children. The horizontal norm in the family is the norm for the relationships between brothers and sisters, and between husband and wife. Furthermore, in human beings there is a norm for an individual to observe, namely, an individual norm, which is the norm prerequisite to perfecting the personality of each person. The vertical norm, horizontal norm, and individual norm will be explained in detail later in Axiology and Ethics.
The norms of the family, as mentioned above, can be extended directly to the society and nation. Ultimately, the norms of the family become the foundation of the norms to be observed on all the levels of the society and nation. Because of the human fall, however, people failed to become beings of logos. As a result, the breakdown of the family is becoming increasingly noticeable today, and societies and nations are in a chaotic situation. When people restore their original nature as beings of logos, then families, societies and nations will be able to return to their original, orderly status.