5. Process of Cognition
We acquire various bits of knowledge through cognition, whereby cognition is accomplished through the three stages of formation, growth and completion, namely, a sensory stage, an understanding stage, and a rational stage, in the same manner as that in which all things grow through the three stages of formation, growth, and completion.
5.1. Sensory Stage of Cognition
This is the formation stage of cognition. In this stage the outer identity-maintaining four position foundation is first formed. Centering on either a conscious or an unconscious purpose, give and receive action between the subject (human being) and the object (all things) takes place, and the content and form of the object are reflected in the sensory centers of the subject, thus forming an image, or an “idea.”
This sense content and sense form can be called the “sense image” (fig. 9.2), which is the image existing in the sensory stage of cognition. Even though the subject may have interest and prototypes at this stage, the prototypes are not yet actively participating. The sense content and sense form at the sensory stage of cognition are only fragmentary images, which have not yet been unified as cognition of the object. Therefore, it is not yet clear what the object is.
5.2. Understanding Stage of Cognition
In the understanding stage of cognition, or the growth stage of cognition, the inner identity-maintaining four position foundation is formed through the inner identity-maintaining give and receive action, and the fragmentary images transmitted in the sensory stage of cognition become a unified image of the object.
The purpose at the center of the inner identity-maintaining four position foundation is the same as the purpose at the center of the outer identity-maintaining four position foundation at the sensory stage of cognition. This is a principle purpose or an actual regular purpose. What comes into the position of subject here is the inner Sungsang, namely, the functional part of the mind, which, in cognition, is the unity of intellect, emotion, and will. Mind refers to the union of the spirit mind and the physical mind, which is the “original mind” of human beings; this is different in dimension from the instinct in animals. In cognition, the spirit mind makes a judgment of value, while the physical mind manages sensation, and they jointly engage in the work of memory. Thus, the original mind, which is the unity of the spirit mind and physical mind, manages sensation and memory while oriented to values (truth, goodness, and beauty). Here, we use the special term “spiritual apperception” to refer to the functional part of the mind in cognition. 32 In cognition, the spiritual apperception, or inner Sungsang, functions as the power to apperceive, the power to make a comparison, the power to make a judgment of values, and the power to memorize, while in practice, it also functions as subjectivity and works as the power to realize values.
Next, what comes in the position of object in the inner four position foundation? First, the sense image, namely, the sense content and sense form that have been formed in the outer four position foundation in the sensory stage of cognition, is transmitted to the position of the object in the inner four position foundation, that is, to the inner Hyungsang. Then the protoimage and the form of thought (that is, the prototype) corresponding to the sense content and sense form are drawn by the spiritual apperception from within the memory. These two elements, namely, the sense image and the prototype are held in the inner Hyungsang.
Under these circumstances, give and receive action of the collation type takes place. This is so because the spiritual apperception, which is the subject, compares the two elements (i.e., the prototype and the sense image) and makes a judgment as to their agreement or disagreement, whereby the inner identity-maintaining four position foundation is formed as shown in fig. 9.3.
Cognition takes place through this judgment, which is called “collation” in Unification epistemology. Thus, we come to the conclusion that cognition, per se, takes place through collation. Consequently, Unification epistemology is a “theory of collation” in terms of method, whereas Marxist epistemology was a “theory of reflection” and Kant’s epistemology was a “theory of synthesis.”
Sometimes, however, cognition may not be sufficiently well established through a single cognitive process (inner give and receive action) at the understanding stage. 33 In such a case, inner give and receive action continues together with practice (i.e., experiments, observations, experiences, etc.) until a new, and sufficiently clear, cognition is obtained.
5.3. Rational Stage of Cognition
Next is the rational stage of cognition, which is the completion stage cognition. Reason refers to the ability to think by means of concepts and ideas. Reason operates as the function of judgment and conceptualization in the understanding stage, while in the rational stage, new knowledge is obtained through reasoning on the basis of the knowledge obtained in the understanding stage.
Cognition in the rational stage is what is called thinking. This corresponds to the formation of Logos (a plan) through the inner develop-mental four position foundation in the Original Image. Thinking takes place through give and receive action within the mind, which is collation type give and receive action. That is, necessary elements are chosen from among the various ideas, concepts, mathematical principles, laws, and so on, already existing in the inner Hyungsang, and under the influence of the inner Sungsang, various mental operations, such as association, separation, synthesis, and analysis, are performed, utilizing those elements. These operations are all performed on the foundation of give and receive action of the collation type; in other words, the inner Sungsang compares idea and idea, concept and concept, and so forth, whereby new ideas or concepts are acquired.
For example, one might compare the idea of “man” and the idea of “boy,” and if they are related to each other, one arrives at the new idea of “father and son.” For another example, one compares the idea of “society” and the idea of “system,” and if they are related to each other, one can arrive at a new concept, “social system.” Thus, operations using ideas refers to the acquisition of a new idea or a new concept from the various ideas and concepts contained within the inner Hyungsang. Knowledge increases through the repetition of such operations. In these operations (inner give and receive actions) as well, the inner Sungsang functions as spiritual apperception. Cognition in the rational stage is the formation of the inner developmental four position foundation (fig. 9.4).
In the rational state of cognition, acquisition of new knowledge takes place continually through completing each stage of judgment. That is to say, each new bit of knowledge that is obtained (completed judgment) is transmitted, in turn, to the inner Hyungsang, and can be used in the formation of new knowledge at the next stage. This is the way knowledge develops. That is, knowledge develops by repeating the formation of the inner four position foundation (fig. 9.5).
Development of this kind of inner four position foundation takes place together with practice. The result (new being) obtained through practice is passed on to the inner Hyungsang of the Sungsang (inner four position foundation), and is used for the acquisition of new knowledge. When new knowledge is obtained, its truth can be tested through yet another instance of practice. In this way, repetitive instances of practice, that is, repetitive formations of outer four position foundations, take place together with the development of inner four position foundations for cognition (fig. 9.6).
