理想社會論에서 본 孟子와 荀子의 哲學

Abstract

This thesis starts with analyzing the utopias pursued by Mencius and Xunzi in order to understand their philosophies. Mencius and Xunzi had political ambitions of constructing peaceful Confucian utopias and needed suitable philosophical theories so as to persuade kings and people to believe in them. The purpose of this thesis is to show that how Mencian and Xunzi's theories of utopia affect their main philosophical theories, that is, theories of human nature and theories of self-cultivation. Mencian utopia pursues a small country based on family morals. Mencius believes that in order to govern such a country, moral kings are needed. On the other hand, Xunzi's utopia pursues a big country based on the regulations of a king. Xunzi believes that in order to govern such a country, intelligent kings are needed. Mencius, who picked up the family ethics as the ruling ethics, draws the concept of innate goodness of human nature by emphasizing that human nature already has seeds of morality and that one acquires the moral standards without having to learn them. On the other hand, Xunzi, who picked up the regulations of a king as the ruling basis, draws the concept of innate evilness of human nature by emphasizing that human nature is evil and that one acquires the ethical standards by learning and practicing the regulations of a sage. The theories of human natures by Mencius and Xunzi provide the philosophical bases for supporting utopias they pursue. Based upon such theories of human nature, Mencius emphasizes reflecting one's inner realm as a method of self-cultivation while Xunzi emphasizes learning and study through effort as a method of self-cultivation. Mencius embodies this in the concept of yang (nursing, 養) and Xunzi in the concept of wei (artificiality, 僞) respectively. These theories of human nature and self-cultivation by Mencius and Xunzi have their roots in the deep love for human beings and thereby show us the deep thoughts for constructing the ideal Confucian moral societies. Therefore, each Mencius and Xunzi pay attention to some particular aspects of human nature in order to support their favoured utopian society. Their theories are not necessarily contrary to each other. Their ideas of Confucian utopia provide strong basis for the ethics of the politicians and also cast strong moral messages for real politics which emphasizes only the creation of power or interests.