2015년 3월 한국의 대통령은 ‘아시아적 가치’와 권위주의적 정치지배를 주장하였던 싱가포르 전직 수상 리콴유의 장례식에 참석하였다. ‘망자 숭배’는 인류 공통적 현상으로 서양은 적어도 근대 초 ‘망자권의 종말’ 이전까지 사회 통합적 역할을 수행하였고, 동아시아에서 특히 한국은 고대의 종법사회의 전통으로 지금까지 강력하게 기능하고 있다. 그러나 다른 한편 2013년 12월 남아프리카공화국에서 수백년에 걸친 인종차별을 종식시키고 인권과 화합을 상징하는 넬슨 만델라 전 대통령의 조문은 생략하였다. 국내 정치권에서 일종의 조문파동으로 논쟁되었던 이 사건은 한국사회의 현 주소를 읽을 수 있는 대표적인 사례이다. 리콴유와 만델라의 정치적, 이념적 지향점은 대립적으로 평가될 수 있는데 그들의 상이한 현실 인식과 가치 지향점은 21세기 한국 사회의 현실과 무관하지 않는 보편성과 동시 특수성을 가지고 있다. 이 사건은 정치적 차원의 문제만이 아니라 다각적 측면에서 분석할 필요가 있다. 이 글의 주제인 동아시아적 가치관은 자본주의 선진국에 대응하려는 후발국의 근대화 전략에서 비롯된 문제로서 정치, 경제, 문화, 철학의 상이한 해석을 포괄하는 현재적 문제이다. 본 논문은 구체적으로 아시아적 가치와 유교자본주의설에 내재한 비민주적, 비인권적 지향성의 문제점을 문화철학적 해석을 통해 규명한다. 아시아적 가치관이 문화본질주의적(cultural essentialism) 또는 문화보수주의적 관점에 의거한다면, 특수 속에 보편성을 지향하면서 개인의 존엄성을 지향하는 가치관은 상호문화철학적(intercultural philosophy) 관점이라고 할 수 있다. 세월호 참사 이후 1년 동안 한국자본주의 사회는 총체적 모순을 그리고 또 시민의 비사회적 관계는 벌거벗은 비인간적인 모습으로 표출되고 있다. 국가 존재 의미에 대한 의문만이 아니라, 개인의 영역에서 타자의 아픔을 거부하는 나아가 인간의 존엄성을 거부하는 적지 않은 시민의 공감(empathy) 실종을 우리는 목도하고 있다. 한국사회가 추진하였던 반공주의를 핵심으로 기능하는 유교자본주의적 근(현)대화의 정당성은 이제 근본적으로 반성해야 한다. 문제는 타자와 평화적 공존을 요청하는 다원적 가치관의 구축이라고 할 수 있다.
In March, 2015, the President of Korea has attended the funeral ceremony of former Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, who insisted ‘the Asian Values’ and the Authoritarian Political domination. The West at least performed the social integrated role before ‘the end of deceased’s right’ of beginning of modern times as ‘the cult of the deceased’ is the common phenomenon of mankind, especially Korea in East Asia is functioning as the tradition of ancient society of clan rules. However, on the other hand, in December 2013, the condolence message of former President, Mr. Nelson Mandela, putting an end to racial discrimination over several hundred years in the Republic of South Africa and symbolizing the human rights and harmony, has been omitted. This incident that has been disputed as the kind of a wave of condolence in the domestic political community is the representative case capable of reading the current address of Korean society. The political, ideological directing point of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and Mr. Nelson Mandela may be evaluated oppositively; this is because their different recognition of reality and the directing point of value have the universality and the distinct characteristics not irrelevant to the reality of Korean society of 21st century. This incident needs to be analyzed from the multilateral aspect not only as the issue of political level. The East Asian Values being the subject of this writing is the current issues covering the different interpretation of politics, economy, culture and philosophy as the issue originated from the modernization strategy of developing countries aiming to cope with the advanced capitalistic countries. This thesis investigates the point at issue of undemocratic, inhumane directing point inherent in the Asian Values and Confucian capitalism concretely through the cultural philosophical interpretation. If the Asian view of value is in accordance with the points of cultural essentialistic or cultural conservative view, the view of value aiming at the personal dignity by aiming at the universality in the specialty is said to be the intercultural philosophical point of view. The capitalistic society, Korea for 1 year after the disaster of Sewol ferry is expressing the overall contradiction and again the unsocial relationship of citizens is being expressed as the naked inhumane figure. We are witnessing the disappearance of not a few empathy of citizen rejecting the pain of others, further refusing the dignity of human in the personal area as not the question only for the meaning of existence of country. The Confucian capitalistic legitimacy that the anti-communism being functioned as the core Korean society promoted should be reflected fundamentally now. The issue is said to be the building of pluralistic view of value requesting the peaceful coexistence with others.
In March, 2015, the President of Korea has attended the funeral ceremony of former Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, who insisted ‘the Asian Values’ and the Authoritarian Political domination. The West at least performed the social integrated role before ‘the end of deceased’s right’ of beginning of modern times as ‘the cult of the deceased’ is the common phenomenon of mankind, especially Korea in East Asia is functioning as the tradition of ancient society of clan rules. However, on the other hand, in December 2013, the condolence message of former President, Mr. Nelson Mandela, putting an end to racial discrimination over several hundred years in the Republic of South Africa and symbolizing the human rights and harmony, has been omitted. This incident that has been disputed as the kind of a wave of condolence in the domestic political community is the representative case capable of reading the current address of Korean society. The political, ideological directing point of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and Mr. Nelson Mandela may be evaluated oppositively; this is because their different recognition of reality and the directing point of value have the universality and the distinct characteristics not irrelevant to the reality of Korean society of 21st century. This incident needs to be analyzed from the multilateral aspect not only as the issue of political level. The East Asian Values being the subject of this writing is the current issues covering the different interpretation of politics, economy, culture and philosophy as the issue originated from the modernization strategy of developing countries aiming to cope with the advanced capitalistic countries. This thesis investigates the point at issue of undemocratic, inhumane directing point inherent in the Asian Values and Confucian capitalism concretely through the cultural philosophical interpretation. If the Asian view of value is in accordance with the points of cultural essentialistic or cultural conservative view, the view of value aiming at the personal dignity by aiming at the universality in the specialty is said to be the intercultural philosophical point of view. The capitalistic society, Korea for 1 year after the disaster of Sewol ferry is expressing the overall contradiction and again the unsocial relationship of citizens is being expressed as the naked inhumane figure. We are witnessing the disappearance of not a few empathy of citizen rejecting the pain of others, further refusing the dignity of human in the personal area as not the question only for the meaning of existence of country. The Confucian capitalistic legitimacy that the anti-communism being functioned as the core Korean society promoted should be reflected fundamentally now. The issue is said to be the building of pluralistic view of value requesting the peaceful coexistence with others.
