한국 철학사에서 박은식 선생의 위상 연구- 정통유학으로의 회복 -

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to erect a status of Park Eun-sik in the history of Korean philosophy. Park Eun-sik is a scholar of the Wang Yangming school who had strived to solve problems in the late Joseon Dynasty. He tried to find solutions by embracing the philosophy of Wang Yangming. He pursued both ‘adoption of modern sciences’ and ‘national prosperity and defense’ which are based on the realization of human morality. Furthermore, he offered prospects for the peace of the world. Park Eun-sik embraced the philosophy of Wang Yangming, being influenced by philosophy of Wang Yangming in Japan and Liang Qi-chao. The change was extremely significant since the academia of Joseon confucianism was biased in favor of the doctrines of Chu-tzu for ages long. Actually it cannot be said that his theoretical understanding of the Philosophy is well organized nor that he established a new academic system. However, it is an undeniable fact that he understands exactly what good knowing(良知) and realizing innate good knowing(致良知), uniting knowledge and conduct(知行合一) is and exactly figures out one’s real intention(本心), moral mind(道德心) of confucianism. He brought up problems to academia of Joseon confucianism, strenuously insisted the renovation of the Confucianism(儒敎求新), and also paved the way for the future scholars to recover the spirit of cofucianism through criticism, introspection, and the acception of the philosophy of Wang Yang-ming. Through this, there is no insufficiency to erect the status of Park Eun-sik in the history of Korean philosophy. In addition, his changeover toward the philosophy of Wang Yangming signifies rather returning to authenticity of Confucianism, than doctrines of Chu-tzu. He strongly presented the Confucian consciousness of anxiety and consequently secured moral consciousness. Based on these consciousness, he imbued ethnic awareness by arguing social and political reformation for the public. Moreover, his argument asserting the confucian utopia, the coexistence of mankind, over imperialism revealed his profound cultural consciousness. In this sense, Park Eun-sik aimed for national profits and world peace as well. Therefore, his achievements can be rated highly of not only academic achievements and status but also in practical aspect.