명· 청 철학에서 ‘知’의 변화 (1): 방이지 대진 담사동의 지식론을 중심으로

Abstract

This paper focuses on the change in ‘knowledge(知)’ that appeared in Chinese philosophy between the 17th and 19th centuries. Since the 17th century, discussions on ‘knowledge’ have supplemented, departed from, and overthrown the ‘Gewuzhizhii(格物致知) of Zhu-Xi studies. This is examined through the knowledge theories of Fang Yi Zhi(方以智, 1611-1671), Dai Zhen(戴震, 1723-1777), and Tan Si Tong(譚嗣同, 1865-1898). Fang Yi Zhi’s ‘質測通幾’, ‘investigating things and insight into their principles’ emphasizes direct exploration of things in the formation of knowledge. Dai Zhen’s ‘由字通道’, ‘interpreting the Tao through historical research on characters’, shows that the theory of knowledge has changed into the study of characters. Tan Si Tong’s ‘器體道用’, ‘The action of things is the basis and the principle is the phenomenon’ overthrows the traditional perception that the universal principle is the basis and the action of things is the phenomenon, and wholeheartedly accepts Western scientific theories. Although they argue for methods of perception and knowledge formation in different ways, through their claims, we can confirm that ‘abstract and conceptual knowledge’ is changing into ‘concrete and provable knowledge’ in Chinese philosophy.