Lu Jin (Lu Jiuyuan)

Lu Jin, also known as Lu Jiuyuan, was a Chinese philosopher during the Song Dynasty who emphasized the importance of innate moral intuition. He believed that true knowledge and virtue come from within each person’s heart and that moral insight can be developed through self-reflection and— importantly— rigorous moral practice. Lu’s philosophy prioritizes the unity of knowledge and action, arguing that understanding what is right naturally leads to doing right. His ideas challenge the notion that morality is learned solely through external study, instead highlighting the role of inner moral awareness in ethical living.