Abstract for the Kant in Asia International Conference

at Hong Kong Baptist University

20-23 May 2009

Kee Woo-tak, ¡§Comparative Study on Human Nature: Anthropology in Kant and Korean Neo-Confucianism¡¨

This theme is aiming at exploring the theoretical foundation of ethics through the comparative study between the ¡§Pragmatic Anthropology¡¨ by I. Kant and Korean Confucianism. A major Korean Confucian Yulgok Lee (1536-1585) contended that we can discriminate between the wise man and the sensual man by criteria based in the mind in its pursuit of morality or sensuality. His contention is associated with the Free Will and inclination presented by Kant with the view that, as the wise man acts with reason, he must naturally come to the pure good and, as the sensual man does not act with reason, he comes to evil.

Kant emphasizes that human beings are different from animals absolutely on the ground that human nature rests upon the treatment of other persons "in every case as an end, never only as a means." This idea finds tie counterpart in the Confucian maxim: "Throw away your greed and preserve the practical reason."

Back to the Final Programme Schedule