Key Points of Unification Epistemology Based on Divine Principle

Some of the major points of the Divine Principle, on which Unification epistemology is based, are the following:

① God’s Dual Characteristics, Give-and-Receive Action, and Multiplication: “The process of God’s creation begins when the dual characteristics within God form a common base through the prompting of His universal prime energy. As they engage in give and receive action, they generate a force which engenders multiplication. This force projects the dual characteristics into discrete substantial object partners, each relating to God as its center” (DP, 24). “Multiplication takes place through origin-division-union action which is built upon good interactions [give and receive actions]” (DP, 31). → The phenomenon of the increase in new knowledge can be explained through this principle.

② The Relationship between the Spirit Self and the Physical Self: “The spirit can grow only while it abides in the flesh” (DP, 48). “All the sensibilities of a spirit are cultivated through the reciprocal relationship with the physical self during earthly life” (DP, 49). “Good or evil in the conduct of the physical self is the main determinant of whether the spirit self becomes good or evil” (DP, 48). → Through these points, we can understand that cognition through the five physical senses necessarily corresponds to cognition through the five spiritual senses, and that cognition and action (practice) originally are intended to fulfill the purpose of good.

③ The Purpose of Creation and the Purpose of Cognition/Dominion: “The natural world returns beauty as an object partner” (DP, 38). “They [human beings] must earn certain qualifications to gain the dominion over all things” (DP, 108). “The purpose of creating the natural world is for human beings to feel joy and peace” (Explaining the Principle, 50). → This principle leads to the realization that cognition and dominion (practice) are in an inseparable relationship, and that the purpose of cognition and dominion lies in the realization of joy and peace.

④ The Human Archetype and Original Consciousness: “Human beings are the perfected substantial image of the cosmos (all things)” (DP, 69). “The cell of a human being has life and consciousness, and the secret of the universe” (Rev. Moon’s sermon). → From this, we can obtain the concept of the Archetype and Original Consciousness as a standard for cognizing all things in the external world.

⑤ Comparative Give-and-Receive Action and Matching in Cognition: “There are various types of give and receive actions, and among them is the comparative type” (Rev. Moon’s response to the author’s questions). → From this teaching, the concept of “matching in cognition” can be obtained.

⑥ The Phenomenon of Correspondence between Mind and Body: “The body… obeys the commands of the mind” (DP, 34). “Thinking is also a kind of give-and-receive action.” “Give-and-receive actions between mind and body, and give-and-receive actions within the mind” (Rev. Moon’s response to the author’s questions). → Through these points, it was possible to come to understand such phenomena as the correspondence between the invisible mind and the visible body, that is, the will and the movement of the body, and the cognition (judgment) of the mind about the information (codes) coming through the body (nerves).

⑦ The Necessary Relationship between Humans and All Things: “God created human beings to be the rulers of the universe” (DP, 46). “What will the world be like when the natural world abides under the direct dominion of human beings? When a fully mature person relates with the diverse things in nature as his object partners, they come together to form a four position foundation” (DP, 45). “The universe was created as the substantial object to the subjective Sungsang of man” (Explaining the Principle, 1963, 50). → Based on these principles, we realize that human beings are created as the subject of cognition as well as the subject of dominion (practice) over all things, and that all things are created as the object of cognition and the object of dominion by human beings, and that, therefore, the relationship between human beings and all things is a necessary relationship, similar to the relationship between mind and body.