‘학문 융복합시대’ 유교의 역할: 似而非 융복합을 경계하며

Abstract

This study looks at the current hot issue of higher education that is the 'Academic Convergence', to examine its characteristics and search for the role of Confucianism within the logic of Confucianism. To this end, chapter II compares the past and the present's different aspects of 'Academic Convergence', and looks at how the traditional Korea's intellectual society was already a platform for academic convergence. It also looks at how the original concept of academic convergence strives for a better communal living but today it has become subordinate to logic of profitability, and thus aids the tendency to deprive even the very minimum rights of human life. Chapter III discovers how both the instinctive and the natural 'Goodness' or 'Good things' are considered essential according to Confucianism, and how these became the premise for convergence. Chapter IV inspects how the direction of convergence must be towards Dongrak (同樂: to enjoy together), in other words it has to lead to the common good. In chapter V, the conclusion points out how the Confucian scholars must be able to provide a 'Confucian Compass' when configuring the direction of convergence. This means the direction should not be capitalistic-centered or profit-centered, but rather the research and education of academic convergence should head towards everyone in the community to strive to achieve the outcome of the Good. Just as how Confucius was wary of the Hyangwon (鄕原: corrupt scholar who does not stay true to his status of pursuing social justice), and Mencius was of the dangers of false theories, we in the modern world need to stay cautious about the 'Pseudo Academic Convergence'.