담헌 홍대용의 <대학문의(大學問疑)> ː북학파의 『대학』 이해의 일단(一端)

Abstract

This thesis aims at examining his understandings about the The Great Learning centering on the <DaeHakMunEui(大學問疑: Questioning doubts about the Great Learning)> of the founder of the YiYongHuSaeng School (利用厚生學派: A school who pursued prosperous economy and welfare of people) orthe BukHak School(北學派: A positive school that pursued mercantilism) from the Joseon Dynasty, Dam-Heon Hong Dae Yong (1731-1783). 1) From what is indicated in the <DaeHakMunEui>, his studies mainly focused on the annotations from DaeHakJangGuDaeJeonJipJu (『大學章句大全集註』: A book that edited different phrases from the Great Learning into chapters and paragraphs), Questioning of the Great Learning』, and 『JuJaUhRyu (朱子語類: A book of Confucian literature written by Yeo Jung Deok』 of Zhu Xi who was a representative scholar of the Neo-Confucianism in the Song Dynasty. 2) Acknowledging entirely the arguing points of Zhu Xi, he is taking a critical position in a way that partial doubts are divided into seven chapters and questioned. 3) For the main characteristic and direction of the questioning, he is estimating that Zhu Xi only stressed the 'means' and 'interior' out of the world of 'means and ends' and 'interior and exterior' in Zhu Xi's recognizing and handling cases; instead, he emphasized putting equivalent value on the 'ends' and 'exterior' as well. 4) In fact, such questions raised partially were misconceived since they were not carried out through profound understanding nor systematic logic expansion of what Zhu Xi insisted. 5) Despite this, at the point where Neo-Confucian thoughts were fixed and weakened only with its form left in the late Joseon Dynasty, his perspective on the study of Confucian classics that the 'ends' and 'exterior' should be as equally valued as the 'means' and 'interior' by examining through the core text of the Neo-Confucianism, The Great Learning has its significance in his YiYongHuSaeng dogma that says politicians, by all means, should provide the ruled with economic convenience and welfare and this is their very right virtue.