Fusion of Liberal Education and the Analects of Confucius

Paek, Seung Su

Korean Journal of General Education 2018;12(2):111-130.
Published online April 30, 2018.

Seung Su Paek

자유교육과 논어교육의 지평 융합

백승수

Abstract

General education should be deepened and broadened. This paper seeks to harmonize liberal arts education and the education of the Analects of Confucius as general education, which have led the education in the East and West for the past twentyfive centuries as primitive forms of education. Through such fusion of horizons, the author seeks a new paradigm in general education with ‘Analects education as liberal arts education’ and ‘liberal arts education as Analects education.’ Here, Analects education means a reinterpretation of the Analects of Confucius for general education. Such fusion of horizons will address the goal of education, content of education and pedagogy. First, for the goal of education, free and virtuous man is one who autonomously aspires to virtuous character and seeks truth. Second, and intrinsic objective is to fuse the horizons of liberal arts education and training for sage. Third, in terms of pedagogy where much is already shared, the methodology of ‘bakhak-shimmun- shinsa-myeongbyeon-dokhaeng’ is used to fuse the two educational traditions. The fusion of Analects education and liberal arts education allows us to reaffirm the unique identity of general education. It is a way of restoring the value of general education as seeking truth and cultivating character. This paper thus seeks to consolidate the value of general education while expanding its scope so as to proffer a fresh challenge to general education in Korea which is a troubled discipline.

Key Words: Liberal arts education, Analects education, Fusion of horizon, General education, Analects of Confucius, Liberal arts