공자의 윤리사상 다시 읽기- 仁 개념의 재조명을 중심으로 -

Abstract

This thesis aims to reread the Confucius ethical thought by focusing on recounting the concept of Ren(仁). Confucius stipulated certain order or norms as Liyue(禮樂) in the Analects of Confucius and he suggested Ren(仁) as the fundamental virtue or universal principle. Confucius accounted the fundamental virtue or universal principle as the 'perfect morality'. One can only become a virtuous person when he or she masters Ren(仁) as the perfect morality hence he or she can make decision and judgement on the basis of the order of Ren(仁). In other words, this is the fundamental system of Confucius ethics. However, what does Ren(仁) really means? Ren(仁) is not a concept that can be interpreted in a single way. Ren(仁) is a concept with three meanings. They are a)Ren(仁) of Youwei(有爲; utility) ethics, b)Ren(仁) of Dangwei(當爲; righteousness) ethics and c)Ren(仁) of Wuwei(無爲: inactivity) ethics. Confucius prescribed different notions of Ren(仁) in different situations and he did not promoted any specific concept as a realm of the truth. Therefore, the principle of Ren(仁) has been a slippery concept as it possesses multiple meanings within it. Obviously, the concept of Ren(仁) which Confucius struggled to achieve and practice during the period of warring states in ancient China from the Zhou dynasty to the Chao dynasty is the Ren(仁) of Dangwei(當爲; righteousness). In this sense, the conventional understanding of Ren(仁) where people understood the thought of Ren(仁) in the aspects of righteousness is not an error. Nevertheless, Confucius himself conceded the practical ethics and especially in his latter years, he realized the fact that it is impossible to materialize the ideal and strived to live a life of Ren(仁) of Wuwei(無爲: inactivity).