동서양 여성철학의 현장탐구:버지니아 울프의 페미니즘과 조선 임윤지당의 성리학 중심 비교 연구

Abstract

This study focuses on the respective thoughts of Virginia Woolf and Yimyunjidang in feminist philosophy. Both writers argue that man and woman have the same original nature and equality, and have no qualitative differences but rather a difference in their roles in society. These two women made a starting point put forth the belief that women were independent beings, and believed the universal dignity of human life to be more important than any other Western or Eastern values. Neo-Confucianism understands nature and man as if ruled by one and the same principle and determines morality as good and evil on the basis of the laws of nature. Yimyunjidang(1791-1793) was a Neo-Confucian scholar who thaught that these principles also applied to the equality between men and women and to harmony between nature and human beings. Virginia Woolf emphasizes education and experience as the necessary conditions for women to gain a cultural and intellectual existence. Yimyunjidang also insists that women should try to devote to learning and to practicing self-training until to be saintlike. Both view even everyday life in the kitchen as meaningful and important, and they study revered female ancestors and praise them as models for women's lives. As this essay compares the thoughts of Virginia Woolf and of Yimyunjidang whose works have been only recently found and translated into Korean, I would like to try to overthrow the generally held belief that feminism is the exclusive possession of Western intellectuals, and at the same time make clear that Korea has as its godmother figure of feminism, Yimyunjidang, just as the West has Virginia Woolf.