부정인문학 방법 서설

An Introduction to the Negative Humanities Methods

Despite an aim of building a desirable human world, the existing humanities having attempted to present the concept of humanity lead to the unintended result that restricts human beings to a constant conceptual framework due to the very structure conceptualizing humanity. For this reason, eventually, they provide the basis for limiting humans, treating specific people as others, and then discriminating against or excluding them like inhuman beings. Therefore, the structural paradigm must be changed to overcome this limitation. The negative humanities intend to pave the way for a new methodological framework of the humanities in order to get over the limitations of the traditional humanities. For the specific study method, I propose the following procedure: casting negative interrogatives against positive concepts - public discussion about the topics by negative interrogative - multilayer analytical deconceptualization about public discourses. Moreover, I postulate that conceptualized humanity(limitations, otherness, exclusiveness), undecided humanity, and possible humanity are set as the objects of this study. Accordingly, the negative humanities will contribute to public opinion according to fair procedures, the unbiased understanding of proper arguments, and the creation of the humanistic culture emphasizing human affection. In addition, they will think of the public as new independence by deconceptualizing the existing concept of the passive public, laying the social foundations for realizing democratic life politics. (Donga University)