대학 교양교육과 『논어』

Abstract

This is a case study of the liberal arts education at Youngsan University that has offered required courses on the Analects of Confucius to its undergraduate students. This program has been unique among Korean colleges and universities, and it represents an experimental effort to bring the traditional education approach to a modern classroom. Only a small number of traditional Confucian academies and institutes for East Asian Classics translation continue the traditional teaching program. Thus, the program at Youngsan University even sparked some controversy among some faculty and students. Here I first elucidate on the goals of teaching the Analects of Confucius in Youngsan University. They include "encouraging being an educated gentleman," providing timeless values from the East Asian classics, and basic knowledge of the Confucian classics and traditional culture of Korea. Other parts of the paper deal with the teaching methods of the Analects in the classrooms, and various editions of textbooks on the Analects. The Analects has been an integral part of the liberal art curriculum at Youngsan University since 1997, but its importance has declined somewhat as there are critics who opposed the teaching of the Analects as a requirement. On the other hand, we have been able to develop teaching methods on the Analects developed, and more courses are now offered on the related field of East Asian Classics. Although it was a requirement, course evaluations by students have been quite favorable. In the end, the teaching of the Analects can be considered a success, and it represents one of the exemplary humanities courses on the East Asian classics.