性命의 관점에서 본 선진 유학의 행복 관념

Abstract

This study examines Pre-Qin confucianism's concept of happiness from Xing-Ming(性命, nature and fate)'s perspective. According to the Pre-Quin confucianism, Xing points to ‘human nature’ or ‘innate nature’ and Ming refers to not only ‘Heaven's order’ but also ‘human mission’ ‘fate’, ‘fortune’, ‘life spam’, ‘destiny’ and so on. Regarding how to define and explain the relationship between these two notions, the Pre-Quin confucianism's concept of happiness diverges into two different perspectives. First, Pre-Qin confucianism surrounding Kong-Meng(Confucius and Mencius) explains the essence and foundation of happiness as innate perception of moral instincts and the subsequent realization of those humane values as the source of real happiness. On the contrary, Xunzi perceives the origin of happiness as the inborn desire to pursuit maximization of self-interest and the actualization of social rationality to achieve this end through institutions. Each of these two different notion of happiness has merit as well as demerit and even seem contradictory in terms of contents and characteristics. However, when considering the philosophy of ‘Wufu(five fortunes)’ or Rigor-eudaimohism, that was constantly suggested as the typical model of happiness since the Ancient China, these two notion of happiness hint at the possibility of mutual supplementation and unification. Studying and reconstructing the idea of life and virtue that were actually pervasive even before Pre-Quin period will provide alternative basis and opportunity to materialize the possibility of creative integration from modern perspective. Additionally, this work allows the comprehensive individuality that goes beyond interior-exterior perception primarily classified by the standard of subject, while at the same time, establishes the functional concept of virtue that surpasses the conflict between internal morality and external rationality. Its content and purpose not only provide opportunities to reconstruct the genuine concept of happiness from Pre-Qin confucianism, but also ideological grounds and reasons to complement modern discourse about happiness and its limitations.