율곡 생태 의식의 특징

Abstract

This study reexamines the ecological implications of Yulgok Yi I’s philosophy in light of the contemporary ecological crisis, which cannot be sufficiently addressed through technical or policy-oriented solutions alone. Instead, the crisis demands a fundamental transformation in the way humanity understands and relates to nature. Yulgok’s natural worldview, grounded in Neo-Confucian Li-Qi metaphysics, positions human beings and the natural world within a shared ontological order, thereby rejecting the modern dichotomy that treats nature as a mere external object. This study analyzes Yulgok’s ecological consciousness by delineating four core dimensions: the ontological unity of Heaven and humanity (cheonin hapil), the Li-Qi based cosmological structure of natural processes, the cultivation of ecological sensibility through self-cultivation and the practice of reverence (gyeong), and the extension of ecological awareness into practical statecraft (gyeongse chiyong). Through this framework, the paper demonstrates that Yulgok’s understanding of nature resonates strongly with contemporary ecological philosophy, which identifies the roots of ecological degradation in anthropocentrism and a distorted view of nature. Moreover, Yulgok’s integration of moral cultivation, ethical responsibility, and political governance provides a comprehensive philosophical basis for connecting ecological ethics with socio-political action. His emphasis on aligning human conduct and governance with natural principles anticipated key themes in modern ecological political theory, such as sustainability, ecological justice, and communal coexistence. The findings of this study suggest that Yulgok’s philosophy offers a significant conceptual resource for building an integrated ontological, ethical, and political approach to addressing the ecological crisis and for advancing a transformative ecological worldview.