소크라테스의 아레테 개념에 비추어 본 학교 도덕교육의 방향과 과제

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to elucidate the meaning of arete explained by Socrates in Plato's Dialogues and to inquire the direction and tasks of our school moral education in the light of the Socratic concept of arete. The reason the arete explained by Socrates is important is that the Socratic concept of arete becomes the answer of the question "how human beings should live?" Though the Greek word arete is generally interpreted as moral virtue, especially in Korea, it contains more meanings than this. That is because the word arete is applied to the function of every thing as well as the function of human being. The Greek word arete means excellence of every thing and phenomenon including human being. According to this definition, the arete of human being guarantees the coincidence of moral knowledge and action with regard to moral education. That is why we use the word arete when knowledge and action is enhanced simultaneously in the situation of moral practice. The result of this Study are as follows. First, the desirable direction of school moral education should be the cultivation of arete which means the excellent morality. Second, the tasks of moral teachers in schools are to learn the dialogical teaching method carried into execution by Socrates in the Plato's Dialogues and to teach the importance of the arete and the idea of good asserted by Socrates which is the answer of the question "How human beings should live?"