본 논문은 환경윤리의 관점에서 自然과 人間과의 관계를 {周易}을 통해 살펴보았다. {周易}은 환경문제의 바람직한 대안으로 자주 언급되는 문헌이다. {周易}에서 自然과 人間의 관계를 어떻게 규정하는지를 살펴보고 人間이 어떻게 해야 하는가를 중심으로 논의를 전개하였다.
自然은 끊임없는 生成을 통해 消滅하는 것을 보충한다. 지속적으로 새로운 것을 生成함으로써 消滅해 가는 것을 보충하여 自然을 유지․보존한다. 自然의 입장에서는 消滅과 生成이 균등하지만, {周易}을 지은 聖人은 모든 것이 消滅하는 것은 아닌가라는 憂患의식이 있었기 때문에 生成의 측면에서 {周易}을 서술하였다. 自然은 항상 스스로를 유지․보존하기 때문에 스스로를 파괴하는 일은 없다. 人間은 自然에 의해 만들어진 萬物 가운데 하나이지만 삼재 가운데 하나라는 지위도 부여받았다. 自然은 지위에 따른 책임과 의무도 부여하였지만 人間은 지위를 享有하기만 하고 책임과 의무를 다하지 않았다. 三才 가운데 하나라는 지위만을 享有하였기 때문에 自然을 파괴하기에 이른 것이다. 人間은 지위를 享有하기도 해야 하지만 天地化育을 돕는 책임과 의무도 다해야 한다.
自然을 파괴한 것은 人間이지만 自然의 生成을 도울 수 있는 것도 人間이다. 人間이 自然을 파괴한 것은 私欲에 가려 자신의 책임과 의무를 망각했기 때문이다. 人間이 私欲을 제거하고 부여된 책임과 의무를 성실히 이행한다면 自然은 다시 소생할 것이다.
In this paper, the researcher investigated the relationships between nature and humans through I-Ching({周易}) from the perspective of environmental ethics. I-Ching({周易}) is a literature which has been quoted so frequently as a desirable alternative for environmental issue. The researcher closely reviewed how the relationships between nature and humans had been defined in I-Ching({周易}) and developed the discussions focusing on what humans could and should do for nature. Nature makes up for the portion of extinction through endless birth. By giving birth for a new life continuously, and complementing the portion of extinction at the same time, nature is being maintained and preserved. In the side of nature, extinction and birth are equal, meanwhile, the sage who wrote I-Ching({周易}) had held the concept of anxiety worrying that the whole living beings would be extinct, therefore, the sage wrote I-Ching({周易}) in the aspects of birth. For nature has always been maintained and preserved in its own cause, there is no chance of nature being destroyed by itself. Human is one living being amongst all things created by nature, and at the same time, humans had been endowed with a position which is one among SanCai(三才). Nature had given humans responsibility and duty according to their position, but humans neglect to perform their responsibility and duty indulging in enjoyment of their position. Because humans have only enjoyed their position which is the critical one amongst SanCai(三才), this failure has resulted in destruction of nature. It shall be necessary for humans to enjoy their position to a certain extent, in the meantime, however, they should discharge those responsibilities and duties in order for forming and nourishing powers of Heaven and Earth. Although it is the humans that have destroyed nature, they can also provide nature with help to give birth to a new life. Reason for humans have destroyed nature is that they forgot their responsibility and duty having been concealed by their selfish desires. If humans get rid of their selfish desires, and fulfill their given duties and responsibilities, nature shall become revitalized again.
In this paper, the researcher investigated the relationships between nature and humans through I-Ching({周易}) from the perspective of environmental ethics. I-Ching({周易}) is a literature which has been quoted so frequently as a desirable alternative for environmental issue. The researcher closely reviewed how the relationships between nature and humans had been defined in I-Ching({周易}) and developed the discussions focusing on what humans could and should do for nature. Nature makes up for the portion of extinction through endless birth. By giving birth for a new life continuously, and complementing the portion of extinction at the same time, nature is being maintained and preserved. In the side of nature, extinction and birth are equal, meanwhile, the sage who wrote I-Ching({周易}) had held the concept of anxiety worrying that the whole living beings would be extinct, therefore, the sage wrote I-Ching({周易}) in the aspects of birth. For nature has always been maintained and preserved in its own cause, there is no chance of nature being destroyed by itself. Human is one living being amongst all things created by nature, and at the same time, humans had been endowed with a position which is one among SanCai(三才). Nature had given humans responsibility and duty according to their position, but humans neglect to perform their responsibility and duty indulging in enjoyment of their position. Because humans have only enjoyed their position which is the critical one amongst SanCai(三才), this failure has resulted in destruction of nature. It shall be necessary for humans to enjoy their position to a certain extent, in the meantime, however, they should discharge those responsibilities and duties in order for forming and nourishing powers of Heaven and Earth. Although it is the humans that have destroyed nature, they can also provide nature with help to give birth to a new life. Reason for humans have destroyed nature is that they forgot their responsibility and duty having been concealed by their selfish desires. If humans get rid of their selfish desires, and fulfill their given duties and responsibilities, nature shall become revitalized again.
