남당(南塘) 한원진(韓元震)의 인간형성론 -도덕적 형성의 가능성을 중심으로-

Abstract

Namdang Han Won-Jin(南塘 韓元震, 1682-1751) was one of the prominent philosophers of the late of Chosun dynasty in the history of Neo-Confucianism. This article is to understand Namdang's theory of human being formation and to seek for the implications for modern education. The major understandings of this article are followings. Firstly, Namdang tries to ask the various meanings of Li(理) and Ch'i(氣) which are not being thing-itself but revealing from human's consciousness. From this, his thinking method is appealing the ontological epistemology and raising the study subject being related to the intellectual subjectivity in educational discourse. Secondly, Namdang tries to understand the multi-strata of human nature from his original “Theory of Hsing San Ts'êng”(性三層說). He explains human nature from Ch'ao Hsing Ch'i(超形氣), Yin Li Chih(因氣質) and Tsa Li Chih(雜氣質). In other words, he reveals the universal idea of human nature from Ch'ao Hsing Ch'i's perspective, the inherent distinction of human nature from Yin Li Chih's perspective and the individual distinction of human nature from Tsa Li Chih's perspective. From this, his “Theory of Hsing San Ts'êng” is raising the study subject being related to the educational ideology that is embracing the various perspectives of human nature. Thirdly, Namdang tries to pursuit the possibility of human being formation through “Theory of Tnng Hsi Lu”(東西路說) and Ch'ing T'ung Chih i(情統志意). He does treat the good as not the transcendental thing but the immanent one in human mind. And he asserts that the revealing of the good is concomitant with the function of i(意) that is considering and comparing, and with the function of Chih(志) that is keeping up the good. From this, Namdang's theory of human being formation is raising the study subject being related to the moral education for autonomous character.