본 논문은 오늘날 ‘역량’이라는 명목 하에 인간이란 무엇이며 어떻게 참다운 인간을 키울 것인가의 근본적인 목적의식이 상실되어 가고 있는 교육현실의 문제에 대한 인식으로부터 출발한다. 연구자는 이에 대한 극복방향을 인간의 삶, 특히 교육에 있어서 본래적인 관계를 조성하는 것이라고 보고, 이를 위한 준거와 이상적 모범을 고찰하고자 하였다. 먼저 본래적 관계의 준거를 찾기 위해 나딩스(Noddings)의 ‘배려 관계’ 이론을 통해 직접성, 고유성, 상호성, 확장성의4가지의 핵심적인 준거를 고찰하였다. 이러한 준거가 교육의 실제에서 어떻게 구현되는지를 고찰하기 위해서 한국의 전통에 중요한 영향을 주어 왔던 유교사상의 시원인 공자(孔子)의 교육실천을 살펴보았다. 결론적으로 참다운 인간은 직접적이며 고유하며 상호적이고 확장적인 관계 안에서 발견되며 또한 조성되고, 이는 자신, 타인, 하나의 대상, 자연, 인공물, 세계에 대하여그 뿌리까지 다가가려는 진실함과 공경함의 태도로부터 비롯되며, 이 태도는 교육자와 배우는자의 하나의 견실한 본래적인 관계와 교육자의 관계를 형성하는 모범적 태도에 근거한다.
Nowadays, many people in the world pursue productivity and efficiency, but in doing so they lose more fundamental reason for life, worthwhile modes of behaviors and the authentic self. The purpose of this study is to explore ways in which authentic relationship is key to resolving the challenges faced by contemporary societies and education. This study uses Noddings’ theory to develop the criteria for authentic relationship. According to Noddings, relationship is essential to human existence and is foundational to realizing the true self. The four criteria for authentic relationship examined in this study are relationship as goal, respect for uniqueness of the individual, mutuality in relationship, and capacity to expand relationships.
The study takes Confucius as an ideal model for the authentic relationship in educational practices. He tried to build relationships with their disciples prior to initiating them into certain knowledge. He strived to understand the position of each and every disciple with their whole heart and guided the disciples based on the distinctive need and potential of each individual. Furthermore, he did not try to offer their teachings unilaterally but rather valued the disciples’ will and reactions.
Accompanied by his disciples throughout their entire lives, he set the example of building relationships, and the disciples took after them and formed sincere relationships while showing love for people and the world.
The problem of today’s education is that there is a lack of serious reflection on what the goal is, whether it is desirable, and whether the means and processes to pursue that goal are appropriate. People’s attention is concentrated not on what the goal is, but on how effective they can be in achieving it. Amidst all the tests and competitions, teachers and students fail to have a serious introspection on what is truly important in education, what is truly needed for men and this society as well as a single unique individual, and how they shall work it out. As a result, they are faced with mental chaos, heteronomy, despondency, and disorientation.
The most fundamental thing to do in order to overcome the aforementioned is to recover the humanity and authenticity of men, which can be achieved by cultivating an attitude of sincerity and respectfulness in relationships. To this end, it is important to foster an attitude of sincerity and respectfulness by building a direct, distinct, interactive, and expansive relationship, as shown in the examples set by Confucius, especially in teacher-student relationships.