도덕적 실천으로서 문화연구의 필요성 ― 찰스 테일러의 관점에서, 현대 한국사회의 문화갈등과 관련하여

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to propose that Cultural Studies is essential to the moral life, as Taylor implies, and to argue that this idea should be recognized especially in Korean society where is rapidly moving into a multi-cultural society. According to Taylor, the moral life is a life in which individual identifies and realizes one’s own originality (true desire) in lifetime. To do this requires a process of understanding and articulating hypergoods. Hypergoods mean strong values, what individual evaluates as the highest in quality. The orientation to such value represents an original content of individual (Self-identity). Now, all goods are derived from and justified in certain cultures. This is because the culture, the product of the language community, is ideal code (rule) that enables individual to give meaning to all things. In other words, the meaning of all languages originates from the culture and can be grasped based on the culture. The same is true of the moral meaning (the good). Thus, the culture is closely related with the moral life. In this context, by developing Taylor's view above, the following could be suggested: in order to lead the moral life, ‘Cultural Studies’ is needed. Cultural Studies is in itself a kind of moral practice. Specifically, it means understanding and articulating the content of culture which is ideal code (or rule), by considering and reflecting the practice of individuals who internalize it. By doing so, we could find out the ground for the value evaluation. Cultural Studies could be urgently needed when there is cultural conflicts between individuals. (value conflicts could be understood as cultural conflicts, considering that the culture is the locus in which goods originate.) The inter-individual deviation or difference leads to cultural conflicts. In general, these conflicts could lead to tension, anxiety, and confusion in the moral life. Therefore, in order to resolve such conflicts, Cultural Studies are required. In other words, it is necessary to deeply understand and articulate cultures that is affecting each other's value evaluation. This could reduce the difference between each other. And, as a result, each individual's moral life could become more mature. Today, in our Korean Society, however, culture conflicts between individuals that mean value conflicts are becoming amplified. Because we have emphasized only cultural homogeneity in a very wide range (e.g. a single ethnic culture, a single language (Hangul) culture, or Confucian culture), while overlooking cultural deviation or difference that could be considered on the individual level. But if these conflicts continue to be neglected and deepened, the moral life of modern koreans will be jeopardized. Therefore, in order to solve this, we should first recognize the inter-individual cultural deviation or difference. And if we experience serious conflicts with values of others, we should strive to understand in depth cultures that is affecting each other’ values. By doing so, we will be able to lead our own moral life properly.