다산의 『맹자』 해석과 성(性) 개념 인식

Abstract

When interpreting Confucian thought, often a new understanding of human nature (性) is presented and sometimes there is even a great shift in the system of interpretation of Confucian classics. Chu-shis Tohak (道學) during the Song period, Wang Yang Mings Studies of the Mind (心學), and Studies of Qi (氣學) of the Ching dynasty Confucians can be seen as different understandings of human nature. Tasan Ch˘ong Yag-yong (茶山 丁若鏞, 1762~1836) is an outstanding and representative scholar of Practical Learning (實學) of the late Chos˘on dynasty. His understanding of human which has created a new paradigm for Confucian classics interpretation was rooted in his new interpretation of human nature. In his work, Maengja Yoŭi (孟子要義), Tasan focused on the concept of nature (性) within the book, Mencius (孟子). Nature was the key concept and the foundation for his interpretation of Shangti (上帝) as the ultimate ground and the basis for distinguishing human beings from all other forms. Accepting Mencius idea, Tasan interprets human nature as the proclivity (嗜好) for goodness and the dynamic force that leads to moral behavior. He directly opposed the dualistic understanding of human nature which was based on making a distinction between body and matter (氣質之性). This was based on the distinction of original nature (本然之性) from physical nature (氣質之性) which saw human nature as principle embodied in man. Tasans emphasis was on Mencius point that human nature is unique and different from the nature of animals. It was a thorough critique of the orthodox Neo-Confucian idea that argued human nature and all beings nature as being the same (人物性同論).