• English & American cultural studies
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.129-162
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• 2017

Ruth Ozeki(Japanese-American female novelist)?s recent novel, A Tale for the Time Being (2013) draws our attention because the fiction shows very interesting fictional experiments, especially in terms of post-humanism. Indeed, the novel is not a science fiction at all which has been, and still is, the typical fictional field employed in the discussion for the transhumanism and posthumanism. It also does not include any cybogs, robots, or aliens which provoke the posthumanism-related issues like mind/body, human/nonhuman, nature/culture relations. Indeed, it seems "merely" represent realistic day-to-day lives of ordinary people living in contemporary Japan and Canada, and in very minute and particular details at that. Indeed, the central action of the main characters of the novel seems very traditional, that is on the one hand writing a diary by a teenage girl who is counting the days and weeks before her suicide and on the other hand reading it by a female novelist who happens to find her diary several years later. Nevertheless, I would like to suggest that underneath this traditional narrative surface are simmering post-humanist and post-anthropocentric worldviews beyond liberal Humanism which takes human beings to be exceptional against human or non-human others. Not only in narrative contents and characterizations but also through narrative structure and strategies, the novel enacts post-humanist and post-anthropocentric worldviews which are interestingly drawn from both age-old Buddhist ideas and modern eco-philosophy and quantum physics. I would like to stress that what triggers the author's fictional experiments helping our rethinking and redefining "what human beings are" and "what the relation between humans and nonhumans" is not merely intellectual interests but her keen and passionate response to the heart-breaking pains and sufferings of human and nonhuman beings caused by the contemporary natural-artificial catastrophes and techno-scientific predicaments.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.197-227
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• 2005

Heojun was the top scientist on Medicine in the 16th and 17th centuries and wrote the Dongeubogam describing the top-level medical theory and technology. So far, his outlook on nature has been disregarded even though his medicine is still effective. Through this study, I would like to know if his outlook on nature as well as his medicine is still effective. The conclusions are as follows: 1. According to his output, the origin of the universe started from the spinning of One Gi(一氣) which is quite different from Hawking's theory. Hawking assumed that the origin of the universe started from the Big-bang and will end to the Big-crunch. However, the current report on the origin of a star is quite similar to Heojun's theory and we acknowledge that his view on the origin of the universe is still effective. 2. According to his output, the universe repeats expanding and contracting forever while Hawking assumed it will come to the end, the Big-crunch, based on the expanding universe theory. Some scientists assists that Hawking's assumption should have some contradictions. Now, we acknowledge that Heojun's universal cycling theory which corresponds with modern physical theories is still effective, which would lead to a new environmental movement. 3. His view on the structure of the universe is quite different from the output of the current science, which results from his thought that the nature should be reviewed from the point of human's view. His view on the structure will be able to be updated based on the output of the current science. 4. The universe analogy started from the East Asian area as well as the Greek and Roman area in the ancient. The idea has disappeared since the scientific revolution era in the West while the idea has been deepened and abundant in the East and has become one of the major philosophical bases. Heojun emphasized its importance from the beginning of his book. 5. The nation analogy has been popular all times and places. According to his output, governing a country is like controlling one's body. 6. According to Needham's output, the universe analogy and the nation analogy were based on the ancient developed alchemy. And Harper assumed that Taiosm was based on the macrobiotic hygiene which was developed by the ancient developed alchemists. We acknowledge that xian(仙) cult, macrobiotic hygiene, medicine, alchemy and the ancient philosophy started from our ancients. Heojun's output restored our ancient tradition by combining the macrobiotic hygiene and philosophy with medicine. 7. Roughly predicting yearly weather would be unacceptable by the current scientist but Heojun's yearly weather forecast is still used in the clinic and seems effective to prepare from any epidemic disease. 8. 'Day and Night' and Four seasons are the most important factors to the macrobiotic hygiene according to the Dongeubogam. The new environmental movements should be based on the most important factors, otherwise the human beings as well as the environment would fail to survive. 9. Wind, Coldness, Heat, Humidity, Dryness and Fire represents weather. The six weather factors represent one of six phases of a year which is decided by the areal factors. Heojun preferred the six factors generated in the body itself to them from the outside. He thought a human being was a universe and the six factors generated in the body responded to the factors of the outside. 10. According to his output, Heat and Humidity are the most important factors which make a human being ill. 11. Life span, disease, food, and dwelling are dependent upon the geographical feature, according to Heojun's output. In addition, one's appearance and his five viscera and the six entrails depend on the food as well as the geographical feature. 12. Heath is related with the environment and they effects upon each other. If one is weak, he will be deeply effected by the nature. On the other hand, if one is strong, he will effect on the nature. That's why people live together. 13. According to Heojun's work, the society is an important factor comprising the environment. During a peaceful era, the society becomes stable and human beings are stable as well while they will be on fire during a chaotic era. 14. Medicine deals with human beings who live in the nature, so any medical book cannot be excellent unless it has any description on the nature. Heojun's outlook on the nature turned out to be logical and suitable even from the point of the current view and it is still effective as if his clinical knowledge and technology are still effective. Something unsuitable may be substituted with the output of the current science.

• Journal of Korean Philosophical Society
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• v.131
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• pp.131-163
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• 2014

This Paper aims to elaborate on the origin of thinking mind. And this is a cooperative project between philosophy and neuroscience and brain science. I have written this paper in admiration for the achievements of twentieth century neuroscience and brain science, and out of desire to assist the subject in future. Much of the history of modern philosophy, from Descartes and Kant forward, consists of failed models of brain. As Edward O. Wilson precisely said, the shortcoming is not the fault of the philosophers, who have doggedly pushed their methods to the limit, but a straightforward consequence of the biological evolution of the brain. Guiding that investigation down pathways that will illuminate brain research is a task of neuroscience and brain science. Investigating logical relations among concepts is a philosophical task. If we are to understand the neural structures and dynamics that make perception, thought, intentional behaviour possible, clarity about these concepts and categories and their relations is essential. Hence our joint venture of philosophy and science. Sure, it is human beings that perceives, not parts of its brain. And it is human beings that who think and reason, not their brain. But the brain and its activities make it possible for human beings-not for it-to perceive and think, to feel emotions, and to form and pursue projects. Thus We try to investigate and reveal the origin of thinking mind as follow: 1) The difference between chimpanzee and human beings 2) brain and mind 3) the origin of thinking 4) the wisdom of nature.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.57-69
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• 2014

This study is based on "Hoesamgyeong(會三經)", the interpretation of the Lecture on Truth of "Samilshingo(三一神誥:Korea's national scripture)". And the goal of this study is to arrange theoretical system of Korean traditional qigong training by doing research on the principles of qigong that are contained in Yookdaesungsang(六大成象) on the basis of Traditional Korean Medicine. Yookdaesungsang(六大成象) is the ideas that appeared for the first time in "Hoesamgyeong(會三經)". Yookdaesungsang(六大成象) refers to Kong(空), Yol(熱), Jin(震), Seup(濕), Han(寒) and Ko(固), which mean six elements of nature. And they correspond with Sung(性), Myoung(命), Jung(精), Sim(心), Ki(氣) and Shin(身) respectively, which are fundamental components of human beings according to the Lecture on Truth of "Samilshingo(三一神誥)". This has a thread of connection with the ideas of 'the unity of nature and human beings(天人合一)' or 'the correspondence between nature and human beings(天人相應)' in Traditional Korean Medicine. From the standpoint of modern science, what are more tangible such as Seup(濕), Han(寒), and Ko(固) are considered as changes in states of matter by activities, while what are relatively intangible such as Kong(空), Yol(熱), and Jin(震) are regarded as wave energy. And in the ideas of three yin(三陰) and three yang(三陽), on which the meridian system of Traditional Korean Medicine is based, Taeyang(太陽)-Soeum(少陰), Yangmyung(陽明)-Taeeum(太陰), and Soyang(少陽)-Gweoleum(厥陰) are respectively ins and outs of the human body and they keep the balance between yin and yang such as cold(寒)-hot(熱), dry(燥)-wet(濕), and slow(緩)-fast(急). As these cold(寒)-hot(熱), dry(燥)-wet(濕), and slow(緩)-fast(急) correspond with Han(寒)-Yol(熱), Jin(震)-Seup(濕), and Kong(空)-Ko(固), the correlation between Yookdaesungsang(六大成象) and the meridian system can be ascertained. As mentioned above, the principles of Qigong in "Hoesamgyeong(會三經)" are based on traditional ideas and accord closely with the principles of Traditional Korean Medicine. Therefore, further researches on the correlations between principles of Qigong unique to Korean tradition and Traditional Korean Medicine are required.

• Lingua Humanitatis
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• v.8
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• pp.151-173
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• 2006

Even in this current high-tech industrial age, mythological imagination is considered important. Although each mythology scattered all across the world may have an insignificant origin, to understand that particular society fully, one must not mistakenly assume that the mythology itself is a production of a primitive mind. Ultramodern physics and futurology professor Freeman Dyson has also acknowledged this opinion. He insists that in order for human kind to survive into the far future it most keep in touch with its far past. Levi-Strauss also observes that mythology and science aren't a entirely separate domains. The scientific mind is regarded as a source of understanding the intrinsic qualities of mythology. Taking mythology and science as a binomial opposition, and only weighing their prospects, should be put to the past as we should recognize the need for mythology and science's qualitative unification. In this new point of view, regarding mythology as a meaningless irrationality should cease, while finding out why the inevitably related world of mythology needs metaphoric, ideological consideration. By utilizing 'Whale Rider' by Witi Ihimaera(2004) we will discover why our lives require an 'image' that is borrowed from our experience. The author, Witi Ihimaera, is originally from the Maori tribe, who approaches the world with a mythological imagination, which is not easy to understand with scientific thinking nor in modern civilization. When looking into the mythology of the ocean which still lives in modern civilization, while noting that the world is one, the author indicates that reality and unreality, nature and the super-natural, present and the past, science and fantasy, were not divided from the beginning. However, overtime humans have divided the borders. To do this, the author interprets the ancient emotions of the Maori tribe which have been traditionally accumulated in the group identity in a new literary way by introducing the Maori tribe's ancestral god, Paikia, who can converse with the ocean and the whales. This piece, which has been made into a movie and won awards in 5 international film festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival, regards primitive emotions as a rational concept instead of an instrumental concept. Also these primative emotions are continuing their attempts to communicate with nature. Furthermore, it advises contemporary human beings who seek for eternal life to not exploit the cultural differences that have been formed naturally, and it is vital for human beings to transcend the ethnic boundaries and to think rationally. In the story, we can find "the dissimilar us" that philosopher E. Levinas mentioned in his sayings, which refers to responsible human beings who devote their lives for the sake of other people instead of fulfilling their own needs.

• The Journal of Korean Philosophical History
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• no.31
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• pp.7-32
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• 2011

Cheng Yi(程?, 1033~1107) understood that nature is full of "changes(易)". And he noted that human being as part of nature also exists only in a series of changes, i.e. birth, growth, extinction and death. All things including human being arise from the same principle, or "Heavenly Principle." Hence human being can fundamentally be one with all other beings, or nature. It is called "Unity of all things(萬物一體)" and "Unity of heaven and human(天人合一)." This philosophical perspective cannot be regarded as being unique to Cheng only; neo-Confucian predecessors called "the five masters of the Northern Song(北宋五子)" anticipated Cheng's vision already. Nevertheless, Cheng elaborated on the shared vision, revealing his philosophical uniqueness. Cheng maintains that only human being receives the principle in the unstained form, and thereby is capable of being one with nature. The one who realizes her/his potential to be one with nature is a sage(聖人); for Cheng, the order and pattern found in nature is nothing other than moral principle that human beings have to live up to and vice versa. Cheng's idea on the principle which human being receives from Heaven no doubt relates to Mencian notion of the innate goodness of human nature(性善); the innate goodness of human nature is no other than Heavenly Principle, and to become a sage depends on whether one can realize her/his potential - human nature, i.e. Heavenly Principle in her/himself. For Cheng, human nature tantamount to Heavenly Principle has no evil quality; all the evil in the world comes from imperfect "physical endowment(氣質)," or "capacity(才)" which is various from person to person, making various personalities. Accordingly, the task of moral cultivation in Cheng's theory can translate into the matter of rectification of one's physical endowment.

• 한국체육학회지인문사회과학편
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.15-25
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• 2016

This study attempted an eco-ethical approach to the sporting body, focusing on Toegye's Gyeong. A causes for the conflict between man and nature is a wrong view of nature derived from human desire. Toegye thought that the problem of desire could be overcome through Gyeong. Eco-ethical approaches of Toegye's gyeong thought are possible for the following reasons: First, because Toegye's gyeong is completed in nature. Second, because Toegye's gyeong emphasize human responsibility (consideration) for nature. Third, because gyeong is related to the ability to practice morality. Meanwhile, Toegye understood 'preserving the body well' as self-preservation and at the same time, as the meaning of a natural principle of following the laws of nature. From this perspective, the sporting body has meanings of physical fitness and mental health and at the same time, an aspect of ecological values of understanding man and nature as a single network and following the order of nature. Acquisition of Gyeong through the sporting body suggests the practice of 'gyeongsin (respect for the body)' and 'hwalgyeong (preservation of the ecological environment).' When human beings do physical exercise with nature, they proceed to the stage of building up the virtue of yosan yosu (finding happiness in mountains and water) through nature preserving the ecological environment (hwalgyeong) beyond staying at the stage of gyeongsin.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.66-79
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• 2014

Unlike other body arts, body painting illuminates the value of art using eco-friendly formative activity and natural environment and highlights the need of eco-friendly activity. However, although body painting has focused on forming right relationship between human beings and nature, there are few researches which are linked with nature art. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to argue the need to study body painting as nature art in connection with natural environment and analyze body painting according to nature art types. The study methods included both theoretical review and empirical review. The theoretical review examined the concept and characteristics of nature art through previous researches and literature and the empirical review looked into the types and works of nature art and applied them to body painting works. The results were as follows. First, an installation type was possible by arranging and attaching certain materials to the body. Second, a physical type was possible by representing body itself as the part of nature. Third, a symbolic type was possible by making body appearance as a some symbol based on artist's idea. Fourth, a sound type was possible by stimulating auditory hallucination using the nature of objects and sensing a sound. Fifth, an ecological type was possible by conveying the message of living things in nature to the body. Sixth, an interior type was possible by inducing indoor installation of works. Seventh, a poetic type was possible by making one feel a poetic inspiration expressed in nature using the mystery of the sea and a simple sequential pattern of floral leaves. Eighth, a drawing type was possible by adding artist's intentional hand with a pictorical technique. Ninth, a indigenous type was possible by reproducing South American indian's primitive style. The review of this study suggests that body painting works have been expressed in experimental and temporary arrangement like nature art in nature and can be applied according to nine types of nature art.

• International Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.123-134
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• 2001

The purpose of this study is to reveal the kind of traditional perspectives we can use from the past to create a sustainable society for the future and to contribute to the growing interest in, and concern for, environmentally-sound designs. Such perspectives include ways to sustain naturalistic aesthetic views, elements of architectural design, and ideas for traditional lifestyles. Architecture that used these methods would contribute to a more ecologically sensitive view of man's place within the natural environment. This research was conducted by way of literature reviews; the objects of study were physically extant traditional housing, the composition of the traditional village, and traditional lifestyles. The results of this study indicate that the ecological characteristics of traditional Korean homes originated from a holistic conception of society and nature; this holistic conception has been found lacking in our more modern, western influenced homes. In the past, in order to leave an unpolluted or even healthier natural environment to descendents, it was essential to apply ecological principles. Villages harmonized with nature and houses were designed to utilize sunlight and wind. Their natural construction promoted consciousness of human beings and their symbiotic relationship with nature.

• Journal of Korean Philosophical Society
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• v.137
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• pp.193-223
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• 2016

This research examines the recognition of nature as identified by Zhuangzi through the man of truth. Zhuangzi defines inactivity as an act of nature and personifies it as the man of truth, a holy man who achieves salvation. It is the stage that is united with nature by breaking out of secular restriction and achieving the absolute liberal spirit. The man of truth is the origin enabling all the acts of nature. And since the existence of all living things is connected, the change of life and death complies with the operation of nature. It is an irresistible destiny for all human beings. Therefore, the duty of nature recognizes the life and death of all creation into a single perspective. In this sense, the feelings of joy and sorrow that human beings feel are unnecessary. When following the duty of nature and destiny, which is to break out of secular desire and empty the mind, it is possible to go to the stage of futility and enjoy a silent and comfortable life. Zhuangzi explains it as living free from worldly cares, which is the stage of 'Soyoyoo(逍遙遊)'. In this thesis, the principles of courtesy and the virtue of Confucianism are stated and are contrary to the concept of futility asserted by Zhuangzi. But, a different approach could be attempted which recognizes a superman who is even more evolved from the man of truth. The philosophical ideology of Zhuangzi could be a necessary factor for modern people and his oriental natural spirit should be highly appreciated.