earticle

영어

I shall investigate the theories of ethics in Neo-Confucian scholars especially those of Seo-in(西人), the political leading group in the 17th century of the Chosun.

At first I will describe the characteristics of Neo-Confucian theory of ethics. Neo-Confucian assumptions in ethics are that the norm is realization of intrinsic human nature, the desire is derived from body. So there are two way of achieving moral activity. One is cultivating and realizing the human intrinsic nature, the other is controling and regulating the desire.

Yun-J'ng(1629~1714) the scholar who was the leader of So-ron(少論), the minority of Seo-in, emphasizes Dosim(道心), the actual realization of the human intrinsic nature. He gives superior status to realization of Dosim to regulation of Insim(人心), the desire of body. His doctrine emphasizes the autonomous moral ability of human. This doctrine weakens objectivity of norm.

Song Si-yl(1607~1689), the leader of No-ron(老論), the majority of Seo-in, thinks much os regulation of In-sim. His doctrine emphasizes the objectivity of norms and weakens the base of autonomous moral ability.

It seems that there are relations between doctrine of ethics and doctrine of politics. No-ron were hard liner to Nam-in(南人), the minority political group in late Chosun and to Ching Empire but So-ron were soft liner.

Consequently, these two doctrines are deprived from the assumptions of Neo-Confucian ethics and show us possibility that can elucidate the problem of Neo-Confucian ethical doctrines in two different perspective even though their theory has still some limitation in the detailed arguments.