권세(權勢)로 누른다는 것은 어떠한 의미에서 부도덕한가? - 순자(荀子)의 관점에서

Abstract

The early Confucian Xunzi (荀子) gainsays the importance of shi (勢, power) in human relationships and governance, with his thought on shi contrasting with the thought of the early legalist Shang Yang (商鞅). But the two thinkers’ contrary opinions on shi cannot be explained simplistically by saying that Xunzi takes a negative attitude, whereas Shang Yang takes a positive one. In this paper, I will argue for a more nuanced interpretation of their conflicting positions. First, I will explore several connotations associated with shi especially in the context of the Xunzi (荀子) and the Shang Jun Shu (商君書). This conceptual exploration will lead to a better understanding of the exact sense in which Xunzi disagrees with Shang Yang about how power is to be wielded in everyday human interactions as well as in the political realm. The two thinkers’ different opinions on shi will ultimately be explained in relation to their conflicting understandings of humanity. Finally, I will address the question of why Xunzi thinks wielding power can go against humanity from his viewpoint.