• Journal of Korean Philosophical Society
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• v.123
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• pp.57-86
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• 2012

Many contemporary philosophers argue that modern philosophy is only the philosophy being imprisoned in subject and consciousness without communicating other subjects with language. They criticize that it is solipsistic. Today, those who are taking part in the communication theory, hermeneutics, and de-constructivism are trying to overcome this problem. The practical philosophers, especially those who advocate communintarianism criticize that modern libertarianism is not free from the isolated autonomy and breaks the solidarity of the traditional community with treating formally others. They criticize Kant's philosophy in the same way. But it is unreasonable. Because Kant was not the philosopher who pursued the same philosophy of subjectivity and liberalism as the earlier modern philosophers pursued. He tried to criticize its limits and overcome them. Especially he did not remain within the modern subjectivity, but rather tried to come up with the inter-subjectivity communicating between subjects. He showed this side through the 'sensus communis'. He thought of a judgement of taste as an effect resulting from the free play between imagination and understanding, and postulated the 'sensus communis' as a ground of the universal validity of this judgement. Therefore this 'sensus communis' is the subjective principle of a judgement of taste. Furthermore, he did not treat this 'sensus communis' merely as a self-relation of a subject, but rather developed it into an communicative relation among subjects. This position of Kant enables us to seek the harmony between the aesthetic sphere and social-moral sphere, and to overcome the conflicts between the autonomy of the liberalism and the solidarity of the communitarianism. Especially, his 'sensus communis' can be developed into the 'critical hermeneutics' and the 'relational autonomy'. Therefore his 'sensus communis' has the possibility to overcome the negative points of the traditional community and the modern community, and to overcome the conflicts among the isolated selves occurring in today's society. Hence Kant's 'sensus communis' has still the important values in the contemporary philosophy, especially in the practical philosophy being now discussed over the relation between autonomy and solidarity.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.121-133
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• 2018

This study begins with focus on the public opinion and political views on embracing Yemeni refugees in Jeju. The public opinion is demanding amendment or even abolition of the Refugee Act. The argument opposing Yemeni refugees is persuasive enough in terms of public order and safety, cultural conflicts and economic interests, but it is going against the universal and authentic values that must be pursued by a forward-looking society. It is natural that the power exerting political discretion keeps an eye on public opinion. However, no matter how many people express it, unjustified public opinion must not be a foundation for political decision. This study will examine the shadows of public opinion and related concepts for those reasons, and review Augustine's concept of 'love' as a value to refer to in making a communal decision. Conflicts lead to insecurity and rift. Without sensus communis (common sense), the rift will not be healed. This study raises the need to resolve such conflicting state and seeks insight from Augustine.