관례의 본질적 의미와 교육적 의의 탐구:고대 그리스 사상의 ‘노모스’ 개념을 중심으로

Abstract

This study aims to explore the essential meaning and educational significance of convention based on the concept of “nomos”(νόμος) in ancient Greek thought. Earlier, Plato and Aristotle discussed the possibility of realizing human nature through the practice of convention while overcoming the conflict between convention and nature that arose in the Sophists’ nomos-physis(νόμος-φύσις) debate. Convention is essentially the product of intelligence accumulated over a long period in accordance with the laws of nature. Simultaneously, it is a medium of education that drives and realizes a child’s potential nature. “Intelligence”(νοῦς) is the highest level of nature and is a single and universal form(εἶδος) that is deeply embedded in humankind. Based on this form, the essential meaning of convention can be defined as “the self-movement of living intelligence”, furthermore, the following two educational significances can be examined. First, the conventional education received during childhood can be a methodological opportunity of education to develop human nature in that it outlines the character, even if it does so vaguely. Second, a conventional life that tries to revive the universal intelligence of humankind and embody the mind throughout life becomes the foundation of an educational community in which true humanity is realized everywhere. Ultimately, the ideal society that Plato and Aristotle had hoped for can be said to be an educational community in which convention and education are not distinguished, because the world of convention that supports the community is the world of education where freedom of intelligence is realized.