• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.28
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• pp.243-265
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• 2017

In this research, I define 'conscience' in Daesoon thought as the 'Restorative capability of returning to one's roots.' The notion of conscience forms a structure of separation and return, and it is connected to the ascetic aim of realizing human perfection. The conscience opens up potential possibilities and leads realization of potential possibilities by returning to the the point of origin. In the middle of separation and return, the conscience acts as the power of subjectivity possessed by human beings which is known as 'In jon (Human Nobility)' in Daesoon thought. The concept of conscience in Daesoon thought is connected with the subjectivity of In jon and free will as well as the character of subjectivity. This shares commonalities with critical thinking, modern characteristics, and the subjectivity of Heidegger's existentialism. Heidegger describes human fate from an existentialist vantage point using terms such as dasein, Geworfenheit, and Entwurf, and establishes human existence as an act of self-recovery from within in a lonely existential establishment. Daesoon thought implies that humanity is the root of ultimate reality, and this description is in sharp contrast with the thrownness (Geworfenheit) of Heidegger's subjectivity. Therefore, Daesoon thought can be seen as unique in its characterization of humanity as being connected to the root of ultimate reality, autonomy, and independent existence.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
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• v.28
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• pp.1-34
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• 2017

This paper aims to understand the Daesoon Jinrihoe's view of human beings within the context of Korean religious history. Here, the context of Korean religious history refers to the view that every religion, including its doctrine, ritual, and organization is created in a specific historical context. In accordance with the purpose of this research, this paper consists of three main parts: firstly, chapter 2, 'An approach to the preceding research,' focuses on the previous studies on Daesoon Jinrihoe's view of human beings. In this part, I have divided the previous studies into psychological, philosophical, educational, and comparative approaches. These prior studies show that studies on the view of human beings started with approaches based on psychology and scriptural interpretations which were later extended to philosophical, educational, and comparative fields of study. However, these studies suggest that there are more suitable explanatory factors to explain the view of human beings. Secondly, chapter 3 (Daesoon Jinrihoe's view of human beings) explains the view of human beings through the utilization of six factors. This six factors are as follows: the origin of human beings, components of human beings, the final judgment after death, the independence and subjectivity of human beings, the purpose(s) of life, and the practices of life. In comparison with previous studies, these explanatory factors may contribute to a more specific explanation of the view of human beings. Thirdly, chapter 4 ('Remaining problems') focuses on future research tasks based on the six factors mentioned above. In this part, I pointed out various research tasks that have to be considered in future studies of Daesoon Jinrihoe's view of human beings, especially in connection to other religions. Finally, in the conclusion, I present two tasks for active research on the Daesoon Jinrihoe's view of human beings. One is the task of incorporating the terms related to humanity into Daesoon Jinrihoe's dictionary of scriptural terms. The other is the task of establishing a department to discuss doctrine and related issues.