다문화주의와 인권의 문제-문화 상대주의와 보편주의의 경계에서-

Abstract

This paper does not approach to the specific examples of concrete problems of multi-cultural society (ex. human rights of international marriage migrant women or guest workers) but it is a heuristic attempt that aims to secure a perspective to understand those problems and to offer a solution. Therefore, 'human rights as problematic' that drifts between cultural relativism and universalism is the central topic. This kind of theoretical approach may seem hackneyed when considering the sharp problematic situation that surrounds human rights; however, it is important in that it can adduce a direction for the increase of human rights within a concrete domain in the future. We can know that even in the short history of multi-cultural society, the issue of human rights is not only legal and institutional problem but also an ethical problem. This shows the importance of multi-cultural education associated with human rights, and that the purposes of this education are the accurate understanding and practice of human rights. First of all, considering the conflict between universalism and cultural relativism, this paper aims for the proper understanding of the origin of human rights by tracking the history of human rights. Then this paper intensively considers 'human rights from the perspective of cultural relativism from the view point of William J. Talbott. He prospects that we can reach universal and ethical judgement through our life experiences and internal communion (emphatic understanding) with other people even from the position of cultural relativism. Of course, he is open to the possibility of this judgement being edited. He insists that it is not the theoretical and artificial 'universal standard' but constantly seeking the possibility of coexistence and tolerance that accord with the given conditions and situation is what contributes to the solution of human rights in practical dimension through the slogan of 'experiments in living.' He emphasizes that this course of seeking represents the advance of humanity. Lastly, looking at the impact of this kind of discussion on our multi-cultural society will conclude this paper.