• Journal of Korean Philosophical Society
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• v.137
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• pp.225-247
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• 2016

This research examines the philosophy of Toegye and Spinoza in the postneo-Confucian and post-modern perspective in emphasizing the activity of Ri(理) and reason beyond the similarities of system in their thought. There is no disagreement in viewing Toegye and Spinoza as balanced opposites in their attempts to harmonize man and nature. In this discussion, I will infer the similarities of Toegye and Spinoza in terms of an 'activity-passivity' thesis.

• Journal of Korean Philosophical Society
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• v.116
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• pp.313-350
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• 2010

This article studies criticism leveled at Yulgok scholarship by the Toegye School in the northern Gyungbuk region. The Toegye School (Yulgok School) was formed both by theoretical contention and constructive criticism with its counterparts. Accordingly, the main intellectual traits of the Toegye School may not be fully appreciated by inquiring into its theoretical structure and context only; rather, this study proposes that a sound understanding of the Toegye School must be accompanied simultaneously with an analysis on aspects of the altercation with the Yulgok School of the time. In this regard, this article primarily aims to shed light on the Toegye School's theoretical context through surveying the criticism leveled by the Toegye School in the northern Gyungbuk region, which hold steadfast adherents to the discipline among other regions, against the Yulgok scholarship. Embracing the Confucian ethic, the philosophical principles of the Toegye School based on autonomy of 'Li'(理), i.e. ethical objectivism, basically aimed at reaching the state of self-manifestation. Namely, the main objective of the Toegye School was to anchor the way how the school understood existential form and cause of the universe to an ethical foundation in a crystal clear way and, accordingly, this belief in which the Toegye School gave a priority to 'Li' rather than 'Gi'(氣) must have given an advantageous position in terms of theoretical clarity over its counterparts. Furthermore, the crux of the Confucian ethical world view in the Toegye School's modes of inquiry could berevealed by the Toegye's 'Libal(理發)-theory'. From this point of view, the fundamental criticism that could be waged by the Toegye School was against Yulgok scholarship's gross misconception of perceiving 'Gi' as 'Li.' Scholars and commentators in the Toegye School severely disapproved of the possibility of ethical objectivism of Yulgok scholarship.

• Journal of Korean Philosophical Society
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• v.142
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• pp.241-263
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• 2017

The purpose of this paper is to investigate Toegye's simhak in relation to spiritualism. In general, we call Chu Hsi's learning "lihak" (the learning of principle) while Wang Yangming's learning is described as "simhak" (the learning of mind). However, we sometimes call Toegye's learning "simhak" in spite of his respect for Chu Hsi's philosophy of li. Toegye's simhak is different from Wang Yangming's. Nonetheless, Toegye too, highlighted the existential meaning of truth. Toegye regarded simgyung (the book of mind) as one of the most important classics for self-cultivation. As is well known, Toegye's main concern was concentration on mind and heart cultivation. Toegye understood li as a spiritual being, which can actualize itself. The goal of simhak is to become a sage. For a sage, there is no contradiction between moral norm and human desire. To become a sage, Toegye developed the theory and practice of mind cultivation. Toegye's simhak has some common characteristics with Louis Lavelle's philosophy of spiritualism. Both Toegye and Louis Lavelle lay great emphasis on self reflection and spiritual life. In particular, Toegye developed the concrete method of mind cultivation. In the 21st century, human beings are confronted with spiritual crisis in many aspects. Toegye's simhak can be advanced as useful wisdom to keep one's mind in a peaceful and harmonious state.

• The Journal of Korean Philosophical History
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• no.39
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• pp.7-27
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• 2013

T'oegye placed great emphasis on the cultivation of quiet-sitting. His idea of quiet-sitting, like Zhu Xi's, had various therapeutic effects as well. This can be highlighted as a real-life practice and a diverse application of the "abiding by Gyong" that he stressed; it is also associated with the treatment of physical diseases, composure in the mind, the benefits of reading, meditation in solitude, and many other areas. And We can easily infer that T'oegye would have set some premises before referring to Hualin Simbang. First, he would have been wary of quiet-sitting being the goal of cultivation: Too much obsession with and emphasis on Toinsul would actually obstruct the practice of "abiding by Gyong" and mislead one's effort for the "preservation and nourishment of the mind" and "reflection and examination." T'oegye would have probably used the physical and breathing exercises in Hualyin Simbang mainly as a reference to treat his physical illnesses. Also, his Toinsul would have been employed independently and partially as a sort of supplementary practice-without being used in parallel with quiet-sitting as one of the methods to achieve reverent seriousness.

• The Journal of Korean Philosophical History
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• no.41
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• pp.71-92
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• 2014

A series of the tragic 16th-century Sahwas sent Toegye into the depths of despair. In the face of the ensuing social disruption in which any criterion or direction is utterly lost, he could not but to reexamine the problem of human nature and good and evil. For Toegye, criterion or direction is connected with Principle, and human nature and the problem of good and evil are related with Mind. In other words, these problems are none other than the question: "As the subject of history and society, how a human being can set principle in a real world and realize it? How one can successfully control his wants and feelings with his rationality?" Toegye proposes that while laws and regulations should be reformed when they are outdated, good laws and regulations are not necessarily to be discarded. He also warns that ideal governance is not likely to be realized if only too conservatives take the lead while radicals, depended upon exclusively, would create too many problems.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.36
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• pp.79-116
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• 2020

This paper examines the nature of the transcendent, absolute, and personal host of ancient philosophical notions of the Higher Power (天觀 cheongwan, literally 'view of heaven'), which flows through Toegye's Principle of Reality (Li), Dasan's Supreme God (Sangje), Suwun's Lord of Heaven (Cheonju), and Jeungsan's Supreme God (Sangje). This confirms the sentiment that despite the conceptual differences relating to appearance, as represented by the Principle of Reality, the Dasanian Supreme God, the Suwunian Lord of Heaven, and the Jeungsanian Supreme God, the contents of these notions do not substantially differ from one another. Moreover, the nature of the ancient philosophical notions of the Higher Power lead to Toegye's Principle of Reality, the Dasanian Supreme God, the Suwunian Lord of Heaven, and the Jeungsanian Supreme God. Toegye emphasized the nature of the Principle of Reality as transcendental and absolute, and also as a personal host. This led to Dasan's Supreme God, and furthermore, it also inspired the Suwunian Lord of Heaven and the Jeungsanian Supreme God. In other words, although Dasan criticizes the Principle of Reality and presupposes a Supreme God, a personal host, this is not especially different from the character or role of Toegye's Principle of Reality. It likewise does not especially differ from the Suwunian Lord of Heaven or the Jeungsanian Supreme God. On the contrary, without the foundation of the religious tradition behind Toegye's Principle of Reality, it would have been difficult to establish a theoretical system leading to the upper system of the Dasanian Supreme God, the Suwunian Lord of Heaven, or the Jeungsanian Supreme God. Of course, the construction of heaven and earth, which in Daesoon Thought is actually performed by the Jeungsanian Supreme God, is, in fact, fundamentally different from Toegye, Dasan, and Suwun's previous notions of the Higher Power. In this sense, it is necessary to present more clearly the religious character of Toegye's Principle of Reality.

• The Journal of Korean Philosophical History
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• no.41
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• pp.39-70
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• 2014

Toegye pursues a life of pleasure, joy and nobility. Anyone who is a scholar shall feel a joy in learning and practicing. However, not everyone can enjoy true pleasure or true calling through self-cultivations. Everybody wants "a joy of distant friends' visitations." But most of Confucian scholars prefer forests as a place of learning and self-cultivation. Toegye especially likes a forest life and then gives same value to walking as to reading. "Not to be angry even if not recognized" must be a high stage of self-cultivation. Toegye does not pursue fame or glory and always resign into a country life. His life-time resignation makes him obtain great after-death fame and glory. Thus, nobody feels jealousy against him but adores him.

• 한국체육학회지인문사회과학편
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.15-25
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• 2016

This study attempted an eco-ethical approach to the sporting body, focusing on Toegye's Gyeong. A causes for the conflict between man and nature is a wrong view of nature derived from human desire. Toegye thought that the problem of desire could be overcome through Gyeong. Eco-ethical approaches of Toegye's gyeong thought are possible for the following reasons: First, because Toegye's gyeong is completed in nature. Second, because Toegye's gyeong emphasize human responsibility (consideration) for nature. Third, because gyeong is related to the ability to practice morality. Meanwhile, Toegye understood 'preserving the body well' as self-preservation and at the same time, as the meaning of a natural principle of following the laws of nature. From this perspective, the sporting body has meanings of physical fitness and mental health and at the same time, an aspect of ecological values of understanding man and nature as a single network and following the order of nature. Acquisition of Gyeong through the sporting body suggests the practice of 'gyeongsin (respect for the body)' and 'hwalgyeong (preservation of the ecological environment).' When human beings do physical exercise with nature, they proceed to the stage of building up the virtue of yosan yosu (finding happiness in mountains and water) through nature preserving the ecological environment (hwalgyeong) beyond staying at the stage of gyeongsin.

• The Journal of Korean Philosophical History
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• no.29
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• pp.33-54
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• 2010

Woodam(愚潭) Jeong Si-han(丁時翰, 1625-1707) played an important role in the formation and development of the Toegye School. This writing explores the way Woodam understood the thought of Toegye(退溪, 1501-1570) as presented in The Book of Four-Seve Demonstration(四七辨證) The 17th century that Woodam lived in was the period in which monism and dualism coexisted. Woodam's understanding of Toegye's thought can be summarized as follows: 1) Woodam followed Toegye's li(理)-qi(氣) defense and his view on the origin of nature and emotion, acknowledging Toegye as the orthodox transmitter of Zhu Xi's teachings, 2) Woodam considered that the difference between the past and the contemporary teachings was simply caused by the difficulty of comprehending the character "li (principle) ". Thus he criticized Yulgok(栗谷, 1536-1584)'s claim that "that which rises is qi (material force), and that which gives rise to qi is li," and followed instead Toegye's views of the entivity, dynamism, and ultimacy of li and its substantial function. Yet, Woodam further developed Toegye's thought and asserted that "in the midst of the marvelous unity of li and qi, li is always dominant and qi is always ancillary." 3) Woodam criticized Yulgok's thought and advocated Toegye's doctrine of the mutual motion of li and qi(理氣互發說), thereby following Toegye's insistence that difference can be observed in sameness and sameness can be observed in difference, that integrative thinking is needed to constructively embrace both analytic and synthetic judgments. In conclusion, Woodam understood profoundly and correctly Toegye's views on the relationship between li and qi and between nature and emotion, and explained them more concretely. In so doing, he endeavored to live the life by the teachings of Toegye.

• The Safety technology
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• no.165
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• pp.12-14
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• 2011

경기 남양주 진접지구는 수도권에서 인기가 높은 신도시 중 하나다. 서울과 인접해 있으면서도 한적한 전원의 정취를 느낄 수 있기 때문. 최적의 주거환경을 갖춘 곳이지만 딱 한 가지 아쉬운 것이 있으니 바로 교통문제다. 진접지구와 서울을 잇는 유일한 도로인 국도47호선 퇴계원-진접구간은 상습 지 정체구간으로 악명 높다. 진접지구가 개발됨에 따라 인구유입은 지속적으로 늘고 있는데 반해 도로는 이를 감당키 어려운 4차로에 불과한 것. 그래서 지역민들은 늘 교통대란에 시달리고 있는 상황이다. 하지만 이 고생도 올해면 끝날 듯하다. 퇴계원-진접간 도로를 8차로로 확장하는 공사를 맡고 있는 쌍용건설이 공사에 더욱 박차를 가하고 있기 때문이다. 게다가 우수한 안전관리로 대 내외에 이름까지 떨치고 있어 도로의 안전성은 물론 공정 전반이 신뢰를 얻고 있다. 안전으로 미래 진접을 열어갈 길을 만들고 있는 쌍용건설(주) 퇴계원-진접간 도로공사 현장을 찾아가 봤다.