유학과 철학치료 ― 『맹자』를 중심으로 ―

Abstract

Main subject of philosophical therapy is human mind. Confucianism is the thought that regarded human life and existence as the most important matter. And especially Treatise of human nature and moral cultivation constituted it’s theoretical foundation in Confucianism. On this point, exactly in the treatment of human mind, it will be possible that Confucianism, in some degree, could provide a theoretical solution to cure human mind. From a view-point of philosophical therapy, this paper is tried to find a new possibility that could be applied Confucian theory of moral cultivation to real practice. According to the traditional thought in orient, all sorts of disease including mental and physical disease, are caused by mind. Identity of the mind and body (or accordance between mind and body) had been a basic proposition in Oriental medicine, and the philosophical therapy in orient has a long tradition. 『Endo-meridians(內經)』 explained that human mind is intimately related to the metaphysical ontology and a view of nature. Therefore ancient doctor should have a insight of physical structure, and a vision of relationship between nature and human being. So oriental medicine has not only emphasized on the treating or curing of a disease, but also regarded the cultivation of mind as a more imporant therapy. Confucian thought that human mind has a innate ability to control over the physical body, and this ability in itself belongs to the characteristics of human being. This point of view comes to be more obvious in Mencius’(孟子) thought. Mencius defined the characteristics of human nature from a moral value of benevolence and righteousness(仁義), not from biological trait or functional part. According to Mencius’ point of view, differences between human and animal are very few. In classifying human species from animal: walking erectly, capacity of brain and so forth, there is no difference of value. The characteristics of human nature which are different from animal are that human mind has a ability to control over selfish desire. Human mind has a good nature, and also can be expressed by feeling and emotion. But mind is not free from temptation of desire. If we fail to control over this desire, we will lose our original state of mind. It could be said that loss of the mind is a “disease of mind.” When the mind goes out of control, it is impossible for himself to prevent his immoral behavior. At the present time, ‘disease of mind’, which is widely spread in our society, is caused by losing the nature of mind without restraint of desire. This is why the philosophical therapy is necessary. Confucian moral cultivation is aimed to recover original state of mind by preserving and cultivating a good mind. Preservation of mind is just a starting-point of a self realization. Mencius said that there is nothing better than decreasing a desire in cultivation of mind. It indicated that the original mind can be preserved by decreasing a desire and preventing disturbance or suppression of mind. Ability of mind is to recognize the value of self-existence. And when this ability of mind plays a positive role of parts, disturbance of mind can be eliminated. From this point, it is valuable to apply Confucian moral cultivation to philosophical therapy.