동아시아 인문학과 타자 : 팬데믹이 준 축복과 저주 ―‘이웃’의 실존적 가치를 중심으로―

Abstract

This essay is for an ideological solution to the unprecedent crisis occurred from COVID-19. This tremendous disaster may be considered as a biological challenge against human civilization, as Arnold Toynbee said. The most critical aspect of changes derived from COVID-19 Pandemic is the rupture of relationships in between individuals. It cannot be normal because destroyed relationships drive people into an exclusive notion toward the different. The notion inevitabley causes the destruction of both humanities and societies. I consider Mahayana Buddhism provides a significant clue to this unprecedent crisis, as it were, a spiritual vaccine. Every religious doctrine claims loving neighbor beyond one’s gender, race, origin, and so on, of course. But Mahayana Buddism has the most elaborate epistemology, one of philosophical manners of investigating how others come out to be the basis of the self, especially in Yogacara and Madhyamika. I tried to show that the epistemology of Mahayana Buddhism can be a game-changing ideology to overcome the current crisis occurred by COVID-19 Pandemic, by an examination of the story of Mahayana Buddhism, especially concentrated on the epistemological aspect. Additionally, this attempt may provide a clue to an undelivered mode of thought, which can take humankind beyond the notion of subjects-others form that has occupied a leading position over the history of philosophy.