공공성에 관한 동·서철학적 고찰

Abstract

There are similarities between the traditional eastern public-private(公-私) views and the pre-modern western public-private views, especially those of ancient Greeks and Rome republicanism which takes the private after the public. But there are also differences between the eastern public-private views and the post-modern western public-private views. That is, the western public-private views are as in the following: they categorize them as public sphere and private sphere, and conflict with them at the same time, and further take the point of view that the public is after the private(後公先私). The publicness starts at the problems of the public and the private. The public-private relations proceed from the private to the public. At this point, the private is the one based on the benevolence(仁) and the righteousness(義). This private only can proceed toward the public. In this relation between the public and the private, the public can make a leap forward the publicness only if the public is based on the courtesy(禮). In this case, there is the publicness between me and the other, and further it goes for societies, nations, and at last the entire world. The publicness means that I have the responsibility of others and also they have that of me, and thus there are public agreements between me and them. Therefore the publicness starting from me is realized the benevolence(仁) and the righteousness(義) in the entire world. In this case, the publicness is the very practical principle of the benevolence(仁) and the righteousness(義).