공자의 恕와 인정욕구 고찰

Abstract

Almost all societies today have a pluralistic character. In a pluralistic society, the demands of the times require seeking social integration methods that acknowledge diversity rather than social integration within identity. 2,500 years ago, Confucius dreamed of implementing his vision of “Lizhi (禮治)” at a time when society was governed by laws and sanctions. His goal was to bring society together through Lizhi (rule by ritual). The society that Confucius hoped to bring via his rule by ritual was a virtuous society. People, being the social animal they are, have a desire to have their value acknowledged by others. As such, it is necessary to examine how Confucius perceived this need for approval, which is an inevitable part of human life. Since the motto of Confucianism is to “achieve fame and prestige,” Confucian scholars believe that honor and a good name will ensure the eternity of an individual. In particular, a virtuous person (仁人)/righteous person (義人) refers to a person who is recognized by the community or the general public. Here, it is evident that the ideal human being in Confucianism had the need for approval at the core. In particular, the author discovered the need for approval from Confucius’ concept of “Shu (恕).” The ideal gentleman, in the eyes of Confucius, was an independent or autonomous man. Thus, the author concludes that perhaps more important than the “desire to be acknowledged by others” is the “attitude of making an effort on one’s own so that he can be properly acknowledged” and “improving insight to develop the ability to properly acknowledge others” in Confucianism. This paper explores Confucius’ concept of “恕,” then it examines the need for approval apparent in Confucius’ ideology.