불교윤리와 공리성의 원리 - 자리이타행과 쾌/고의 원리를 중심으로

Buddhist Ethics and the Principle of Utility -focusing on ‘the principle of benefiting both oneself and others’ and ‘the principle of pleasure and pain’-

  The following words of Buddha shows the essence of Buddhist ethics symbolistically; “I teach only suffering and the end of suffering.” However the general research tendency of Korean Buddhist academic circle has so far neglected this facet of Buddhist ethics. It might have led to the defeat of Korean Buddhism to neighboring religions such as Protestantism and Catholic Church in the field of social influence. I think we buddhists need to realize the importance of simplicity of Buddhist ethics, for example ‘the principle of benefiting both oneself and others’ and ‘the principle of pleasure and pain.’ Here we might find out some way towards modern interpretation and applicability of Korean Buddhism. The above principles have the universality being able to be applied to most people of the world, for all sentient beings on the earth have sensory organ feeling pleasure and pain together. Classical utilitarianism and Buddhist ethics shares the principle of pleasure and pain and the sentiment of benefiting both oneself and others. This thesis is dealing with the formal resemblance and substantial difference between the two ethical theories. I think these kinds of scientific efforts continue to be tried because of its actual utility especially. The contents of this thesis are as follows.   Ⅰ. Preface   Ⅱ. Buddhist Ethics and the Principle of Utility; their formal resemblance   Ⅲ. Buddhist Ethics and the Principle of Utility; their substantial difference   Ⅳ. Conclusion; Searching for the Modern Appling Principle of Buddhist Ethics