This thesis is aimed at introducing and reinterpreting the nature(自然), the essential concept of 『Laozi(老子)』. The reason the stress is laid on the nature(自然) is that there has been no enough discussion of its vivid definition, modern interpretation, and critical debate. Especially this thesis tries to prove it’s possible to draw the naturalism from the nature(自然) of 『Laozi』, then explain the idea of 『Laozi』from the viewpoint of the naturalism and interpret it educationally. This is for the purpose of solving the modern educational problems through the naturalism of 『Laozi』. That is, when the reason various problems in modern education occur can be said to be the chase of material longing and thereby the destruction of human nature, 『Laozi』 can present the essential way to solve the educational problems by revealing the relativity of the subjective distinction between values and showing what we have to seek in the end is recurring to the nature(自然).
For this purpose, in the chapter of Ⅱ, the meaning of the nature(自然) will be given with respect to the main concepts of 『Laozi』, the Tao(道), the Virtue(德), and Wuwei(無爲), and the term of naturalism will be drawn. That is, the nature(自然) is the state that all things have to attain, and the ideal act at that state is Wuwei(無爲). Therefore, an individual, to get to the ideal state of the nature(自然), has to be harmonized with the Tao(道) by realizing the indwelling Virtue(德), then to act Wuwei(無爲). The naturalism drawn from this notion of the nature(自然) is a term to emphasize to agree with the Tao(道) as a whole by realizing the nature(自然), our ultimate state, which is different from the Western concept of naturalism.
In the chapter of Ⅲ, it will be shown the essence, purpose, and content of education, by naturalism being introduced to education. That is, the education of naturalism is the process of ‘studying not to study(學不學),’ one that helps an individual to understand the human life and realize it. The directional points of this educational viewpoint of naturalism can be said to be the character realization of an individual self (an individual, 一) and the formation of the viewpoint of the universe as a whole (the whole, 全). These two directional points can ultimately be said the recurrence to the perfect(全一) Tao(道) and the realization of the self nature. The principle of educational content composition to realize it is conciseness, easiness, simplicity, and relationship. That is, the knowledge students need searching for their nature lies already in them, so the education has to be easy and simple so that they can search for it voluntarily. What students realize their selves also includes to live harmonized lives with the other beings, so the education has to comprehend the relationship with other beings. The ideal figures of teachers presented in the education of naturalism is a sage(聖人) and infant(?兒), and their educational method is ‘tending.’ Especially the method of tending is not care, which is shown in the ethics of tending, but healing, which, just like that we recover our bodies, is a way that teachers support and guide students so that they get back to their natures. The kinds of education methods of tending are as follows: the principle of emptying(虛) and being silent(靜), one of being soft(柔弱) and not quarreling(不爭), and one of ‘acting Wuwei(爲無爲)’ and ‘following the nature(順自然)’. The teachers practicing this believe in students’ potentiality and help them cultivate it, and can see all the students from the impartial viewpoint that the heaven and the earth do not discriminate between all things. The reason teachers can do this is they are settled at their nature and believe in themselves. Also these teachers use the language of Wuwei(無爲), which is trustworthy and silent without any decorations. It occasionally uses metaphorical method (the right words are just like the reverse), which is a teaching not to teach.
Last, in the chapter of Ⅳ, it will be presented various conditions to actualize the educational standing point of naturalism, and suggestive points and limits of this thesis. That is, to attain the educational standing point of naturalism, schools and teachers should be believed, various means to set up the educational environment should be supported, and the atmosphere for parents and societies to search for students’ nature should be formed.
In short, this thesis will reinterpret the naturalism in 『Laozi』 from the standing point of education. It is not easy to practicalize the educational position of the naturalism in 『Laozi』. However, by identifying the essence of education again through it, we can demonstrate the right direction toward the current education, and expect the change through it to make us happier in the long run.