소통과 신뢰의 바탕 - 유교 ‘신(信)’의 재검토

Abstract

This paper is a review of the virtue of 'Sin(信, faith) that has been the basis of communication and trust in East Asian Confucian societies. Faith was basically a necessity in East Asian Confucian societies between man and man, between individual and collective, and between group and group. It has been the foundation of all relationships. On the other hand, it was a Confucian ethic that could be accepted without resistance in modern society. Now, to conclude the discussion in this paper, it can be summarized as follows: First, the issue of faith, which is usually discussed in the relationship between friends, originally means that a person's language and actions are in perfect agreement. In other words, it was not a document, but a concept that referred to the correspondence of human verbal commitments with practice. Faith was to be earned by fulfilling one's responsibilities and obligations to one's words. Second, not all faith-based actions are justified. Faith must be founded on justice and followed by courtesy and humility. At this time, they become not antisocial and anti-life. Inner sincerity is not necessarily in accordance with universal principles. Inner sincerity is a necessary condition, not a sufficient condition. In order for it to have a just meaning in a complex society, it must be based on justice and shown with courtesy and humility. Third, faith is the platform through which the four major Confucian virtues pass, and it is the basic basis for its recognition. In other words, these virtues must not be false in themselves. Thus, faith is the basic basis of the four major Confucian morals. Fourth, and furthermore, faith, as shown by Confucius' statement of "what is achieved by faith," is placed at the end of the five Confucian morals and has the meaning of completing the first four. Thus, faith does not serve as a specific virtue like the other four virtues, but rather has the meaning that the four virtues have sincerity at their core and have been perfected. Finally, it has to do with the first. In order to be able to secure objectivity, direction, and correctness in what we generally believe and follow, it requires thorough study and reflection. Confucius taught four things: study, practice, sincerity, and trustworthiness. This is the premise for the realization of faith. The initial emphasis on "science" was the study of securing objectivity in the direction in which faith should go. Faith is good, but it can be dangerous or partial, caught up in emotions, desires, ideas, and ideologies. Therefore, it is necessary to constantly ask 'Why should I believe?', 'What kind of faith is this?', and 'What is faith for?' Therefore, faith cannot be justified by itself, but must require universal principles.