노자철학에서 깨달은 사람과 그 삶의 방식-성인과 현자의 구별을 중심으로-

Abstract

Lao-tzu criticized the fallen real human beings in the Spring and Autumn era, criticized the ideal human image presented by other schools, and presented his new ideal human image. The ultimate goal of Lao-tzu's philosophy is to realize the Tao(道) and become a sage and do meaningful deeds for himself and the world. The new human figures proposed by Lao-tzu are the Sages(聖人) and the wise men(賢人). A wise man is a person of great character who realizes the Tao. A Sage is also a good person as he realizes the Tao, but he is also a person who performs the social task of governing people, so the difference is that the social role played by a Sage is wider than that of the wise men. Lao-tzu compares the Sage to infants and water. A newborn child is pure and innocent and has no greed. Infants are not obsessed with stereotypes, so they are soft, flexible, and candid in everything. Also, they do not have excessive desires, so they do not create conflicts with others. Water benefits all things, always goes low and does not insist on its own identity. The Sage is a person who does not cling to the desires, intentions, emotions, and prejudices that dominate the lives of ordinary people. The wise man purifies the turbid world and gradually clears it. Instead of being complacent with the established order, it breathes life into the helpless world and creates a new wind. Because a wise man has no personal greed and selfishness, he hides his pride and is humble, and because he does not boast in front of others, he is truly respected and lives well with the people of the world. The Sage is a good leader with soft leadership. His actions become the standard principles of the world. He does not fight for initiative with the people, does not rule over them, respects their positions, and places himself lower than them. He communicates flexibly with the people of the world, so there is no quarrel. He is an active person who tries to reform reality to make the world a better place. The act of “government” from a sage is not passively doing nothing, but actively doing nothing(無爲). Then everything will go smoothly and the world will be peaceful and happy.