공자의 인론(仁論)에 관한 소고

Abstract

The discussion about the nature of human beings in Philosophy of Confucius evolves under the premise that 'humans are moral beings' and focuses on finding innate human morality. This is also the reason that we start the discussion on Confucius' anthropology from the question 'why does Confucius use the concept of benevolence(仁) as the core concept in his philosophy?' The accurate answer to this can be found clearly when understood in relation to his philosophy in politics. However, in this study, we try to find the way for easy understanding to the question, ‘what is benevolence(仁)?’, by limiting it only to benevolence(仁) that serves as the core concept in Confucius' philosophy that he asserted as the basis of each and every virtue as well as its overall completion, which should be the very first question to ask when discussing Confucius' Renxue(仁學). This paper is to elicit the overall characteristic of benevolence(仁) by systematically connecting some propositions that define benevolence(仁) most specifically and are most helpful in understanding it, such as the passages, ‘overcome selfishness and return to the rituals(克己復禮)’, ‘love of human(愛人)’, ‘filial and obedient(孝悌)’, ‘loyalty and forgiveness(忠恕)’, and interpreting them. I personally believe that, in Confucius' assertion about benevolence(仁), consistent rules are assumed, and the purpose of this paper is to examine what are those consistent rules. When Confucius uses the word benevolence(仁), there are two usage for it; one for a broad sense, and the other for a narrow sense. Benevolence(仁) in a broad sense collectively denotes all virtues, and benevolence(仁) in a narrow sense means loving one another. All the various concepts of benevolence(仁) in 『Analects』 actually include the basic implication of love of human(愛人). According to such view, Confucius says benevolence(仁) as moral principle of giving my true heart to others. There is no problem to define Confucius' benevolence(仁) as ‘love by human’. Benevolence(仁) is human's nature, and love is human's warmth. If benevolence(仁) is the noble ideal, love is its specific expression. Respect for teachers, friendship for friends, and loyalty for the country are the examples. Benevolence(仁) that Confucius talks about is, in its core meaning, love and, as it's components, the collection of all virtues.