義 실천의 근원적 모순과 이에 대한 공자의 고뇌와 선택

Abstract

For confucius, a vassal would only be allowed to betray his lord when it seems to be the only moment to give rise to the birth of new hero who can sustain the central-plains culture. However, this could produce a dilemma, nobody can tell that who is eligible for being the perfect hero and when is the right time for the revolutionary change of the contemporary dynasty. Confucius himself admitted that one should be deeply appreciated who showed unswerving loyalty to his master. That means, in other words, Confucius approves the incompatible values between being hero by killing his master and remaining faithful to one's loyalty. The problem arises when the both choices could be justified simultaneously. In the Analects, Appropriateness(義) is the social sensibility that enables one to examine oneself and make harmony of the society. In this paper, I have divided Confucius' thoughts about appropriateness into three classes, when appropriate action does not properly follow the situations. Collapse of the feudalism, unlawful use of the public power and expansion of private possession respectively. As a result, a proper fulfillment of ones duty, a justifiable act of public power, and self-examination in making one's profit are to be done to solve the problematic situation. Appropriateness(義) is the crucial term effective. Mostly, Confucius is faithful to the principle by his own. However, he seems to suggest a perpetual method to reunify the whole society together by perform the appropriate action(義). It is very significant that Confucius has succeeded and developed the traditional concept of Appropriateness(義) since then.