退溪와 栗谷의 性理說: 문제의식･관점･방법

Abstract

It is widely held that contrasts in the events and surroundings of the period prompted Toegye and Yulgok to maintain opposing theses in their Neo-Confucianism. Although it is important to note that diverse historical backgrounds might result in different perspectives, it should also be highlighted that Toegye and Yulgok held different perspectives on humans and the world. Toegye's theory can be described as dual-nature-dual-emotion, while Yulgok maintained the single-nature-single-emotion thesis, which is further tied to their divergent world views and cultivation methodology. Because li and ki in Toegye’s ‘li and ki mutually initiate’ (理氣互發) refer to moral nature and self-interested instinct, respectively, his ‘li and ki mutually initiate’ overlaps with what we can summarize as the ‘conflict between li and ki.’ Toegye defines that li and ki as having a competing relationship. As a result, he attempted to figure out how to promote li in order to counter ki. On the other hand, li and ki in Yulgok’s ‘ki initiates, and li is carried by ki’s initiative’ (氣發理乘) represent moral nature and independent mind, respectively. The thesis ‘ki initiates, and li is carried by ki’s initiative’ in this context means that moral nature is realized through the mind’s perceptive process. Yulgok saw li and ki’s relationship as reciprocal and sought ways to help ki to fully realize li.