I shall investigate the theories of ethics in Neo-Confucian scholars especially those of Seo-in(西人), the political leading group in the 17th century of the Chosun.
At first I will describe the characteristics of Neo-Confucian theory of ethics. Neo-Confucian assumptions in ethics are that the norm is realization of intrinsic human nature, the desire is derived from body. So there are two way of achieving moral activity. One is cultivating and realizing the human intrinsic nature, the other is controling and regulating the desire.
Yun-J'ng(1629~1714) the scholar who was the leader of So-ron(少論), the minority of Seo-in, emphasizes Dosim(道心), the actual realization of the human intrinsic nature. He gives superior status to realization of Dosim to regulation of Insim(人心), the desire of body. His doctrine emphasizes the autonomous moral ability of human. This doctrine weakens objectivity of norm.
Song Si-yl(1607~1689), the leader of No-ron(老論), the majority of Seo-in, thinks much os regulation of In-sim. His doctrine emphasizes the objectivity of norms and weakens the base of autonomous moral ability.
It seems that there are relations between doctrine of ethics and doctrine of politics. No-ron were hard liner to Nam-in(南人), the minority political group in late Chosun and to Ching Empire but So-ron were soft liner.
Consequently, these two doctrines are deprived from the assumptions of Neo-Confucian ethics and show us possibility that can elucidate the problem of Neo-Confucian ethical doctrines in two different perspective even though their theory has still some limitation in the detailed arguments.
한림대학교 태동고전연구소 [THE TAEDONG CENTER FOR EASTERN CLASSICS]
설립연도
1963
분야
인문학>한국어와문학
소개
연구소는 한국 및 동양의 전통문화를 계승 발전시키기 위하여 한문연수를 통한 연구인력 양성과 연구사업수행을 목적으로 한다. 연구소는 위 목적을 달성하기 위하여 교육사업으로 한문연수과정을 개설하여 연구인력을 양성하고 고전문헌의 조사연구정리 학술지간행 고전번역출판 학술발표회개최 국내외연구기관과의 교류사업을 추진한다.