개화사상을 통해 본 ‘능력주의·공정’ 담론의 근대적 연원

Abstract

This thesis seeks to find the modern origins of the discourse of “meritocracy and fairness” from the perspective of enlightenment ideology and Confucianism, and seek new meaning. In particular, among modern intellectuals, the study was focused on the moderate enlightenment thinkers who emphasized reform while sticking to their beliefs about Confucian values. They include Park Kyu-Su(朴珪壽, 1807∼1877), Kim Yoon-sik(金允植, 1835∼1922), and Yoo Gil-joon(兪吉濬, 1856∼1914). Internally, enlightenment thinkers harshly criticized the evils of the Imperial Examination and rather preferred the recommendation based on the ‘wise’ spirit of Confucianism. Or, more emphasis was placed on public education and cultivation of qualifications as social citizens through school education. They emphasized the role of education and believed in the power of enlightenment. Emphasizing that education is the only way for individuals and society to survive and become rich, they emphasized the belief that through national education, new civilizations can be acquired, the country can be made strong, and the ability can be recognized as much as one tries. The meritocracy of rewarding them according to their ability is to overcome the difficult realities of the times and overcome the limits of the weak to ensure the existence of their own individuals and communities. However, like the craze for examinations that began during the Japanese colonial period, the plan for educational enlightenment reduced and isolated individual areas of success, and continues to this day. Externally, the enlightenment thinkers urged other countries to form public opinion and comply with public law based on fair loyalty as they were incorporated into the new international order. Believing in the fairness of treaties and public law and expecting to resolve disputes through this is emphasized in the intention of promoting survival as a weak country, but in reality, it lacks objectivity and fairness and has a innate limit in which the strong suppresses the weak. The social evolution theory introduced at the time emphasized competition for survival and the oppression of the weak by the strong, thereby preserving themselves under any circumstances, trying to fulfill their will, and pursuing their own lives. Therefore, it becomes a law of nature for the winner of the survival competition to enjoy power and the loser to be destroyed. However, intellectuals at the end of the Joseon Dynasty used the theory of social evolution as a theory to explain the demands and necessity of conscious action for the loser to become the winner. It was used as a theory of the weak who are reborn as strong through self-discipline that develops their skills rather than reckless war in the situation of losing national authority. Overcoming the premodernity of Confucianism and promoting practical and practical reforms, the enlightenment thinkers put in mind the realization of a fair society above all else. However, it showed the limitation of not effectively realizing true equality and justice due to the difference in positions between the government and the Confucian intellectuals/dominated and the governed. This is especially true in terms of a lack of a public base and dependence on foreign powers. Now, it is necessary to recognize that justice that can be achieved even in the composition of competence and competition beyond discrimination and inequality, by imitating the perspective of respect for humans taken by the enlightenment thinkers in the Confucian tradition, is fair. When discussing ability and fairness, we should recall that the connection between individuals and communities, consideration for others, and recognition of responsibility as a social being are important virtues of modern civil society.