조선 주자학의 안팎을 구분하는 기대승의 전후기 성리설 -이황; 이항ㆍ노수신과의 논변을 중심으로-

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to demonstrate, in accordance with fundamental intention of Kobong Ki Dae-sung’s philosophy, the doctrine of Theory of Moral Emotions and Feelings(七情). Kobong's Theory of Moral Emotions and Feelings is output of Four Seven debate(四七論爭). In this debate, Kobong was a challenger to Toegye. Researches on Four Seven debate(四七論爭) so far attached too much importance to Toegye Yi Hwang’s theory. The whole and true aspect of the debate is illustrated when the theory of Kobong is equally illuminated. Toegye argues that moral emotions are the only important and meaningful realization of Li(理). He insists that only the moral emotional beginnings(四端) is directly derived from the human nature(性), the substantiality of moral principle(Li, 理). Toegye's theory insists that feeings(七情) are derived from the emotional circumstances(氣) of the body. In his early doctrine, Kobong did not approve Toegye's thesis that feeling is derived from the emotional circumstances(氣) of the body. He insists that whole emotion and feeling is derived from the human nature, the substantiality of moral principle, so every emotion(Chiljung, 七情) is innocent and moral it self at beginning point. He emphasizes the innocent originality of human emotions. He thought that every feeling and emotion is the realization of Li. No one is seperated from the Moral origin, Li. In his view, the Unverse is the exact realization of Li. He emphasized the realization of Li not Ki. Kobong debated with Sojae Ro Su-sin who argued that all emotional expression is the realization of Li. Contrary to this, Kobong's theory is that the origin and beginning point of all emotions is Li. So Kobong didn't approve that all emotional expression is the realization of Li. The good emotional expression is the only the realization of Li. He worried that people could misunderstand the emotional circumstances of the body as moral origin itself, Li. In his view, the emotional circumstances is not the origin of morality but expressional moments that realize the morality. So people should distinguish the good expressional moments and bad expressional moments from the feeling. In his later theory Kobong approve that whole emotion is derived from the emotional circumstances of the body. Only the moral emotion is the secure realizations of the human nature, the substantiality of moral principle. He considered the Emotional circumstances of the body as the unsecure actuality of human nature. So every man should control his emotions to observe the moral rule and only the moral emotional beginnings can be believed to pursuit. So Kobong's later theory resembled Toegye's theory.