이 논문은 기존 ‘한국 근대불교’ 연구에서 사용하는 ‘근대’ 및 ‘근대성’에 의문을 제기하고, 비판적으로 검토하여, 나름의 대답을 마련하는데 그 목표가 있다. 이 과정에서 우리는 ‘한국근대불교/학’ 연구 담론에서 그동안 본격적인 논의가 없었던 ‘근대’와 ‘근대성’의 특징들을 서구의 역사적 흐름 속에서 해명하고, 이를 토대로 한국적 조건에서의 ‘근대’란 과연 무엇인지, 그리고 더 나아가서는 한국적 조건에서 과연 ‘근대’ 혹은 ‘근대성’을 발견하는 것이 가능한 것인지에 대해 의문을 제기한다. 마지막으로 이 글은 이러한 검토를 기반으로 하여, 기존의 ‘한국근대불교’에 대한 연구들이 ‘근대’에 대하여 언급해 온 부분을 비판적으로 검토 및 계승함으로써, ‘한국근대불교’ 연구가 진행되는 과정에서 그것이 ‘근대’와 관련하여 반드시 염두에 두어야 하는 전제가 무엇인지를 모색해 보고자 한다.
This article is a reflective study on the 'modern' and 'modernity' in 'Modern Buddhism of Korea' research discourse. First, we raise the issue on how to define and describe the 'modern' in the recent 'Modern Buddhism of Korea' research. We raise some questions about whether there is the concept of "modernity" properly explained and agreed in Buddhist academia of Korea. And we will try to propose its solution. Next, we will briefly review the characteristics of ‘modern’ and ‘modernity’ in the flow of history of the West, which have never been discussed in the research discourse of "Modern Buddhist studies of Korea.' We will raise questions about whether it is possible to find a 'modernity' in itself what it is, and is further expected really 'modern' or 'modernity' in Korean conditions on the basis of this review. Finally, this article seeks to reveal what premises must be kept in mind in the ‘Modern Buddhist studies of Korea’, by critically reviewing researches of "Modern Buddhist studies of Korea".
This article is a reflective study on the 'modern' and 'modernity' in 'Modern Buddhism of Korea' research discourse. First, we raise the issue on how to define and describe the 'modern' in the recent 'Modern Buddhism of Korea' research. We raise some questions about whether there is the concept of "modernity" properly explained and agreed in Buddhist academia of Korea. And we will try to propose its solution. Next, we will briefly review the characteristics of ‘modern’ and ‘modernity’ in the flow of history of the West, which have never been discussed in the research discourse of "Modern Buddhist studies of Korea.' We will raise questions about whether it is possible to find a 'modernity' in itself what it is, and is further expected really 'modern' or 'modernity' in Korean conditions on the basis of this review. Finally, this article seeks to reveal what premises must be kept in mind in the ‘Modern Buddhist studies of Korea’, by critically reviewing researches of "Modern Buddhist studies of Korea".
