공자의 교육사상에 나타난 ‘배움(學)’과 ‘사고(思)’의 관계에 대한 고찰

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between learning and thinking in the educational thought of Confucius. Learning and thinking are very important concepts in education, so to study them and to highlight their relationship are necessary to educational theory and practice. Confucius is the founder of Confucianism and a great educator who has influenced Korean education. Therefore, it is significant to Korean education to study the relationship between learning and thinking through the educational thought of Confucius. This study examines the meaning of learning through goals, subjects and methods of it. Then it inquires the substance of thinking as discernment and inference, practice and building the moral person. Finally, it synthesizes them and highlights the relationship between learning and thinking. The relationship between learning and thinking is, first, to have the same goal of building the moral person and cooperate for it, second, to relates each other through practice by modeling moral behaviors and reflecting, third, to share the necessary partnership as the two sides of the Golden Mean. The relationship suggests the cooperative methods of learning broadly, willing sincerely, questioning critically and thinking practically, and it presents important implications to the Korean educational practice. First, learning broadly suggests going beyond fixed textbooks and the preparation of the college entrance examination. We should strengthen liberal curriculum such as literatures, philosophy and history. Students should utilize various materials and think them critically. Second, willing sincerely means to build a strong foundation of the will to learn voluntarily. The relationship between learning and thinking begins from the reflection of "Why do I learn?". The self-reflection of the reason of learning causes inner motivation and strong power to learn incessantly and pleasantly. Third, questioning critically means to examine subjects of learning critically and creatively. Teachers should guide students to question "Why?" "How?" "Other aspects?" in every subject. The critical and creative thinking ability will help good performances of projects in societies. Forth, thinking practically means to relate new knowledge with the former knowledge and to apply general theories to a particular situation. Teachers should help learners to understand subjects through their own experiences and viewpoints.