鄭齊斗와 丁若鏞의 『大學』 이해 연구

Abstract

This research is an attempt to examine Jeong Jae Du and Jeong Yak Yong’s criticism of the Cheng-Zhu school and to reveal the characteristics of their practical academic method through their interpretation of The Great Learning. In line with the ideological background of the late Joseonperiod, they showed a critical and reflective attitude toward the existing academic study of the Cheng-Zhu school. They also had a tendency to take an empirical approach to interpreting the classics. Consequently, in the process of consolidating the controversy against amendment of The Great Learning, they tried to find a logical basisfor the texts of the classics. However, the difference in their academic opinion is plainly revealed in their interpretation of The Great Learning(大學). Jeong Jae Du criticized Zhu Xi’s interpretation of The Great Learning from the perspective of Yangmingism, and his position was characterized by the view that the entire content of The Great Learning was infiltrated by the ideas of Investigating things and extending knowledge to the utmost(格物致知). Jeong Yak Yong’s interpretation of The Great Learning was best illustrated in the commentary on MyungDuk(明德). He thought that virtue happened through good human action, defining it as HyoJeJa(孝弟慈). Both of them based their study on The Ancient Great Learning to criticize Zhu Xi’s interpretation of The Great Learning. Thus, while their understanding of The Great Learning had different academic foundations, they still clearly shared common points in their academic attitude toward the existing academic method of the Cheng-Zhu school and in their academic attitude toward the study of the practical ethics of the human subject.