전쟁과 평화에 대한 孟子의 인식

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to systematically look into Mencius's thoughts of war and peace. To him, war is an evilness that must destroy both sides. War breaks out because of desire of a powerful/rich nation so-called politics of power. However, every war in the world cannot be regarded as evilness. They are essentially different according to their own motivation or purpose of each. Some wars are for invasion of seizing the others' lives and the other nations' independent rights, and accordingly there must be the wars for defense and wars for independence against such invasive wars. To him, such wars for defense and wars for independence are righteous. Furthermore, every independent nation must make efforts to prevent wars and build peace. For this, he told the nations to reinforce their defense power and make diplomatic efforts. Most of all to him, however, it is politics of capable and righteous king; politics by virtue that can end the war age getting uncivilized and build peace essentially. He said that politics by virtue is to protect the people's lives for ethical enlightenment of them at the most; politics of ethics for 'feeding people and enlightening them'. That is, politics by virtue is the best way of security and peace-building because the people living in such political community for people and their enlightenment will voluntarily contribute to national defense to protect their own lives and rights even if they are not required to do so by their government when their nation is invaded by enemies.