사회인문학의 이중적 성찰: 대동민주 유학의 관점에서

Abstract

This thesis has been written as Institute of Korean Studies, Yonsei University’s HK Project, which has been conducted for 10 years under the patronage of National Research Foundation of Korea, was drawing to a close. Humanities Korea Research Center, Institute of Korean Studies, Yonsei University, pointed to the “crisis of the Humanities” in South Korea and presented “social humanities” as the alternative branch of the humanities to overcome the challenges. Humanities Korea Research Center(Institute of Korean Studies, Yonsei University)’s endeavors ultimately took the form of “Social Humanities as a practical discipline in the 21st century”, its overarching research thesis. While conducting research to give tangible shape to “Social Humanities as a practical discipline in the 21st century”, the author proposed a new field of study titled Great Harmony Democratic Confucianism. The author’s finding was that “Social Humanities as a practical discipline in the 21st century” could be realized through Great Harmony Democratic Confucianism. In this thesis, the author will 1) critically reflect upon existing humanities studies and 2) explore ways to restore relevance to the humanities. Furthermore, the author will clarify how these dual reflections resulted in Great Harmony Democratic Confucianism. To elucidate the underlying theme of this thesis, the author will illustrate how Great Harmony Democratic Confucianism bridges the two aforementioned thoughts with critical review of Western-centric humanities, which is caught in the dichotomy of the classical vs. the modern. Furthermore, by critiquing Western-centrism – which engenders the colonization of the classical – the author will explain at length the ways in which Korean traditions, especially Joseon’s Confucian traditions, affect Korea’s democracy to this day. In the process, the author will also clearly state how the classical should be interpreted. Going further, the author will clarify that Korea’s democracy was formed by the modulation of Western democracy by the means of Confucian democracy, and explain how the resulting brand of Korean democracy can be understood as Great Harmony Democracy. Finally, the author will emphasize that Great Harmony Democratic Confucianism, as an academic reflection on the emergence of Great Harmony Democracy, opens opportunities of newly interpreting Korea’s democracy and even modern identity, thereby contributing to Korea’s successful victory over its “crisis of the humanities.”