證驗學을 표방한 최한기 철학

Abstract

Choe Hangi’s philosophy is usually classified as “empiricist,” but simultaneously, it is often argued that he “sought universal principles.” In this paper, I attempt to reveal that Choe Hangi’s philosophy incorporates the scientific thought scheme of “observation-hypothesis-verification,” thereby reaffirming him as “a bold and thorough empiricist.” According to Choe Hangi, everything is gi(氣), and li(理) makes distinctions among things. This position, which may be called giilbunsu(氣一分殊), is at odds with that of Jangjae and Li Yi, who explained ethical differences by the cleanliness-dirtiness and purity-impurity of gi and argued that morality could be achieved by correcting gi. In the context of denying any change in natural disposition(氣質), Choe Hangi emphasized seungsununhwa(承順運化). “Seungsun” refers to understanding, complying with and utilizing li in the given conditions(流行之理), while “Unhwa” means employing li as exact methods(不易之理) that will ensure desired results without failure. In other words, this procedure is inference(推測) and verification(證驗). “Chu”(推) refers to observing phenomena and then understanding “li in the given conditions”, “Cheuk”(測) implies forming “li as exact methods” to acquire desired results, and “Jeung”(證) corresponds to verifying anticipated results. The conceptual triad of “chu(推)－cheuk(測)－jeung(證),” one of the prerequisites of Choe Hangi’s philosophy, corresponds to the “observation- hypothesis-verification” scheme. As a hypothesis is formed from observation and its truth is certified by verification, verification can be the representative concept of the “observation- hypothesis-verification” scheme. In this regard, Choe Hangi presented “verification” as the creed of his science. Since “gi” in “Gihak”(氣學) is verifiable, his “Gihak” can be characterized as “verification science”. As verification was presented as the creed of science, Choe Hangi needs to be classified as “a bold and thorough empiricist.”