급진적 구성주의의 학문 연구를 주도했던 인물들 가운데 한 사람인 프란시스코 바렐라(1946~2001)의 강연집 『윤리적 노하우』는 동양의 전통적 가르침이 정립했던 것을 윤리적 노하우라는 관점으로 조명한 내용을 담고 있다. 그의 저서는 동양철학 전공자에게 연구의 중요한 진전을 가져올 수 있는 계기를 마련해주고 있음에 틀림없는 것이다.
본 연구는 바렐라의 견해를 분석하고, 그의 관점과 연구 내용을 동양철학 연구 특히 유교 연구에 적용할 수 있는 가능성과 그 방향을 탐구하였다. 본 연구의 순서는 인지과학의 흐름과 프란시스코 바렐라의 학문, 『윤리적 노하우』의 체계와 주요 관점, 윤리에 관한 지식의 본질, 윤리를 노하우로 보는 것이 타당한가? 동양철학 연구의 새로운 관점의 논의로 구성되었다.
본 연구에서는 동양철학연구에 적용가능한 『윤리적 노하우』의 특징적 구도를 네 가지로 파악하였다. 그 내용은 첫째 현대인의 윤리적 실천의 현실에 관한 그의 문제의식, 둘째 서구철학적 사고 내지는 초기 인지과학의 계산주의적 모델의 극복과 구성주의 모델의 확립, 셋째 존재론적 이원론의 구도를 넘어서는 생명론적 일원론의 구도로의 전환, 넷째 숙련에 의한 자기창조의 원리 등이다.
One of leading members of radical constructivism on the basis of cognitive science, Francisco J. Varela's Ethical Know-how, which is a collective publication of his speeches, newly explains the Asian traditional teachings as a very useful and meaningful wisdom depending on a new conception of ethical know-how he developed. It is sure that his work gives a moment to specialists of Asian traditional thoughts. This article is for the analysis of his ideas about the ethical know-how and at the same time for a search for possible way to apply his ideas and methodology to the studies of Asian traditional thoughts. This study is going on with the order as follows; current stream of cognitive science and Varela's researches, the principle of Ethical Know-how and main viewpoints, the essence of knowledge of ethics, the explanary structure of Ethical Know-how, and new viewpoint of Asian philosophical studies. According to this study, his ideas and theoretical points that can be applied to the studies of Asian traditional thoughts are summarized as follow; his strong and consistent willingness to improve the low level practice of ethics in contemporary societies up to a higher level practice, changing the thinking model for the improvement leaving from the Western philosophical tradition or the computational style of the early cognitive science settling to radical constructivist model, establishment of the monistic principle on the basis of the life itself with rejection of the ontological dualism, and construction of autopoiesis(self-organization) by means of mastery of the know-how.
One of leading members of radical constructivism on the basis of cognitive science, Francisco J. Varela's Ethical Know-how, which is a collective publication of his speeches, newly explains the Asian traditional teachings as a very useful and meaningful wisdom depending on a new conception of ethical know-how he developed. It is sure that his work gives a moment to specialists of Asian traditional thoughts. This article is for the analysis of his ideas about the ethical know-how and at the same time for a search for possible way to apply his ideas and methodology to the studies of Asian traditional thoughts. This study is going on with the order as follows; current stream of cognitive science and Varela's researches, the principle of Ethical Know-how and main viewpoints, the essence of knowledge of ethics, the explanary structure of Ethical Know-how, and new viewpoint of Asian philosophical studies. According to this study, his ideas and theoretical points that can be applied to the studies of Asian traditional thoughts are summarized as follow; his strong and consistent willingness to improve the low level practice of ethics in contemporary societies up to a higher level practice, changing the thinking model for the improvement leaving from the Western philosophical tradition or the computational style of the early cognitive science settling to radical constructivist model, establishment of the monistic principle on the basis of the life itself with rejection of the ontological dualism, and construction of autopoiesis(self-organization) by means of mastery of the know-how.