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A Philosophical Analysis of the Concept “Bal/Fa 發” in the Four-Seven Debate between Toegye and Gobong

Korea Journal / Korea Journal, (P)0023-3900; (E)2733-9343
2012, v.52 no.2, pp.92-115
https://doi.org/10.25024/kj.2012.52.2.92

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Abstract

The Four-Seven Debate was an attempt to explain human feelings in terms of their ontological basis. In this article, I intend to offer a better understanding of the debate by analyzing some of the conceptions that play a significant role in it. I choose this method for three reasons: this line of approach to the debate has been very rare though not completely new; the conclusion derived by such an approach has been inaccurate and indecisive; and the philosophical connotation of the word “bal 發” (fa in Chinese pronunciation) has not been well recognized. In what follows, I begin with analyzing and examining the three candidates for the meaning of the word “bal” in the context of the six Propositions introduced in the Four-Seven Debate concerning the relationship between the Four-Seven and i-gi (li-qi in Chinese pronunciation). In consequence, I arrive at the conclusion that there is no universal translation of bal that fits all the Propositions and also that Gobong’s final Proposition concerning the aforesaid relationship returns the Four-Seven Debate to the starting point.

keywords
Korean Neo-Confucianism, Four-Seven dichotomy, i-gi/li-qi dichotomy, Toegye, Gobong, conceptual analysis, bal/fa 發

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