유가의 정통성에 관한 연구 - ‘中’을 중심으로 - = A study on the legitimacy of Confucianism focused on Zhong

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The legitimacy of all beings becomes the essence of its vitality not only as an idealistic value but it existentially becomes the essence of its vitality as well. The discussion on orthodoxy and heresy in the theory of Confucian orthodoxy is about legitimacy that comes from nature as a basis of existence for the ought (das Sollen) and the is (das Sein).
Western political and sociological legitimacy is more concerned with the social and political needs of the group than the individual morality and therefore is linked to the need for voluntary subordination of internal members for the maintenance and solidarity of the group.
Discussions on the legitimacy of Confucianism place more emphasis on the essence of human beings for individual moral completion than on the need to maintain the dynastic state and social system. Therefore, the discussion on the Confucian legitimacy does not remain only at the idealistic value, nor does it not merely focus on the effectiveness of maintaining and bounding political and social groups. In the end, the discussion on the legitimacy of Confucianism is a prerequisite required for achieving the ideal goal that human beings, who are realistic subjects, should realize, and a discussion on the indispensable elements of moral practice. The discussion on establishing the meaning of legitimacy may vary depending on time and place, but the essential contents are ultimately concluded with the origin of the existential inception of human beings and all things and the practical method of maintaining and inheriting it.
The basis of universality for the moral norms of human society is expressed as the reason or the justice and the like in both East and West, and the subjective subservience of the inner side based on this ultimately comes to conscience. Therefore, universal values based on human conscience are indicators of orthodoxy and heresy.
The universal norm of “Zhong(moderation)” as Confucian legitimacy is to indicate that the legitimacy of the Confucianism becomes the essence of its vitality not only as an idealistic value but it existentially becomes the essence of its vitality as well. In the end, the legitimacy of Confucianism is the concept of “orthodoxy” that maintains and inherits the inceptional value or thinking of “moderation” that derives from Emperors Yao and Shun, and the orthodoxy of Confucianism is the maintenance of academic legitimacy through the succession of “moderation” and the preservation of the vitality of the ontological order.
Therefore, the focus of criticism on Taoism and Buddhism in the theory of Confucian orthodoxy is that the statements of Taoism and Buddhism are weak as the basis of “moderation” which is the substantive standard of Confucian norms, and that the statements cannot achieve the goal of Confucianism ultimately. Therefore, as the “moderation” as the legitimacy in Confucian orthodoxy theory is the academic basis and prerequisite and at the same time is the vitality as the kernel, the discussion on “moderation” continue without interruption and is bound to be fierce.
In the end, the essential purpose of the Confucian orthodoxy theory is to realize the moral completion of the world and human beings and the Confucian goal of making people become saints through the proper understanding and succession of “Moderation.”