曺兢燮의 共和主義 비판과 朱子學적 근거 梁啓超 비판을 중심으로

Abstract

This article aims to investigate Cho Geung-sup’s counteraction to republicanism. Republicanism was introduced to Koreans in the imperialistic invasion period, so it was understood from the visual angle of the social Darwinism instead of liberalism. At this crucial complication period, he counterattacked it by the use of Chu xi’s theory. He could not amend misunderstanding about Western civilization, because he acquired information through narrow channel, that is, Liang Qichao’ writings. He felt strong shock by the armed aggression of imperialists, so he judged Western political ideas as the theory of limitless competition and mutual killing. This judgement exerted bad influences upon his understanding of the republicanism. He summarized the dominant characteristics of this government system, and he showed the excellent points of Confucianism. The construction of this article is as following. I compared republicanism with Confucian moralism in chapter Ⅱ. The next, I contrasted between his concept of human rights and the virtue of modesty, because these concepts were the kernel concepts of his critical reconstruction of Neo-Confucianism. And I tried to explain the historical background of mistaking compelling power for human rights in chapter Ⅲ. The next, I tried to make his observation of mankind clear that caused his rejection to republicanism in chapter Ⅳ. Lastly I attempted to elucidate his world outlook in chapter Ⅴ, it was composed of Heaven’s decree theory and criticism to the social Darwinism. In conclusion, I admitted the role of Confucian pacifism that struggled against the violence of Social Darwinism, and I recognized the limit of Confucianism that originated in the inner violence of the order of rank.