기타무라 도코쿠의 평론에 나타난 「자아의식」에 관한 고찰 - 에머슨의 사상과의 비교분석을 통하여 -

Abstract

Emerson proposed the idea of the ‘Over-Soul’and Toukoku proposed the idea of the ‘Inner life’ through Emerson's influence. Each of their ideas is the essential element of each of their thinking systems. The purpose of this paper is to ascertain how their ideas are connected with each other. It might be queer to propose such a attempt. For Emerson did not know anything about Toukoku's work, and it is Toukoku who was influenced by Emerson. But Emerson's ‘Over-Soul’ is obliquely connected with Toukoku's ‘Inner life.’ It is because both of them based their religious views upon Oriental religions. Thus, in this paper, their religious activities and views were analyzed and compared. Emerson's idealism was deeply involved with the dignity of human self. This is why he became self-centered, so that he could not be accepted by all. As to Toukoku, his modern ego was not fertilized enough, because he died so young. This may have been a tragedy not only for Toukoku himself, but also for the modernizing Japan. A Japanese modern ego stopped its development at the immature state.