朱熹 性理學의 형이상학적 특색과 현대 철학

Abstract

Instead of post-modernist theories or forms of monistic materialism, there is renewed interest over metaphysical philosophical thinking that places importance on the making of ‘distinctions in the levels of being.’ There is increased awareness that even the most minute events in the universe need to be considered in totality in their overall relations to the whole. Metaphysics represents an attempt to create a “coherent, logical and necessary system” for ordinary concepts, that is able to explicate all aspects of our experience. Zhu Xi's(1130-1200 C.E.) metaphysics also presents a consistent and concordant view of the abstract reality situated in human experience. Varying definitions of terms such as ‘Taiji’(the Great Ultimate) and ‘weifa’(the pre-intentional and universally-oriented state of the mind before the feelings are aroused) by scholars lead to differing interpretations of the overall metaphysical character of Zhu Xi's philosophical system. The coherence of Zhu Xi's philosophical system is made apparent if one takes recourse to li (principle) as a guiding factor for the explanation of the metaphysical propositions found in his theories of ontological substance and moral self-cultivation. The distinctive characteristic of Zhu's metaphysics is connected invariably with his philosophy of the primacy of li, which gives precedence to li over qi (material force, psycho-physical matter). Zhu Xi inherits Mencius' theory of the inherent goodness of human nature to build his own theory that “human nature is principle.” Like Mencius' theory of the inherent goodness of human nature, Zhu's theory that “human nature is principle” posits two components to the mind, and as such has a dualistic structure. Consequently Zhu's theory of the Great Ultimate, his theory of li-qi and his theory of mind and human nature have to be analyzed with this Mencian dualistic scheme in mind. At present various philosophers in the West are engaged in devising a new rationalistic philosophy that takes into account the importance of human spirituality and religiosity, and that seeks to highlight the advantages of the normative potential in a rationalism that goes beyond instrumental or functional reason. Among the Confucian and Buddhist philosophical heritages, Zhu Xi's philosophy of the primacy of li (School of nature and principle) provides valuable resources for a universal ethics due to its rationalistic metaphysical characteristics.