정약용의 변등론과 유교 사회윤리의 확장 가능성

Abstract

It is known that there has been discontinuity in Chŏng Yagyong's thoughts between in his season of office and that of exile, and between his studies of Confucian classics and that of governing. Typically, the matter of social rank is one of them. Especially, his theory of social stratification presented in Mongminshimsŏ claims the strict hierarchy more than anybody else during Chosŏn dynasty. Thus, this position seems to be contradictory to his equalitarianistic metaphysics and his people-centered politics. To understand his theory of social stratification and his general thoughts as a whole, in this paper, I try to pose some arguments. First, his social stratification theory is a product of his efforts-making to reconcile Confucianism and the traditional practice of Chosŏn. Second, this theory surely emphasizes social hierarchy, however, in the factors to set the order of rank, he includes one’s age and virtue as well as one’s social and political status. Third, he brings up social relation affined by legitimacy. Since this relation is based on the consensus of both sides and its obligation coming from this agreement is asymmetrical, it is connected to his emphasis on the social rank and the asymmetrical relationship. If this relation affined by legitimacy would regain its original principle of symmetry and reciprocity, it could contribute to expanding the Confucian ethics of society.