When Understood, Existence is Reborn

Soyo's Existence Ethics (Existence itself is ethics)

The Birth of Being

Years of Solitude and Silence, and the Miracle of Encounter

There are moments of silence in human life. Long years of solitude, when no one understands and no one approaches, are like a winter wasteland. My life was like that. Silence became my language, solitude became my room, and the word “alone” became the most familiar shadow of my life. Yet humans are ironic beings. No matter how much one has tamed solitude as part of oneself, a single warm glance, a clear smile, or a polite word from another can shake one's entire life. It is not merely an emotional disturbance but a miracle of discovering the newness of existence.

Such a moment came to me as well. It was a chance encounter, but it broke down the walls of my solitude and proved that I was still a being worthy of understanding. Philosophically speaking, this is “recognition of existence,” a moment of rebirth through the knowledge of others amid the suffering of human life. Understanding that came in the form of a scholar.

He reminded me of a scholar from the Joseon Dynasty. Even in a turbulent and distorted world, he remained steadfast, upholding what was right with integrity. However, his integrity was never arrogant; instead, he approached me with warmth and humility. Though brief, our conversation was deep and sincere. In that conversation, which transcended understanding, I felt a respect for existence that I had long forgotten. Having returned to my homeland after 50 years, I had never had an actual conversation with anyone amid the many cultural shocks I had experienced. This brief encounter was like a lifeline that quenched my long-standing thirst.

Tears Shed Before the Autobiography

I shed tears three times while reading his autobiography. It was not a simple reading experience. The pain and suffering contained in the book, and the journey of a human being who sublimated that pain into beauty and perfection, struck my soul. His life was like clear water flowing down from the mountains. Just as that stream cleanses the world of dust and turbidity, his writings purified my soul. I realized that life is a record and a trace. However, an accurate record is not merely a testimony for oneself but gains meaning only when it can save another life. This is also the core proposition of the existential ethics I have established.

Philosophy, Translation, and the Bridge of Understanding

After returning to the United States, I decided to translate his autobiography into Japanese. It was not a simple translation, but rather a confirmation that his testimony of life and my philosophy were connected. With each sentence I translated, I discovered human dignity and ethics in his suffering, and I felt that its beauty was naturally linked to my existential ethics.

Philosophy is not simply a discipline that logically deconstructs concepts. Philosophy is a testimony to the truth that lives on through human tears and suffering, understanding and humility. Therefore, translation is not a simple linguistic task, but a bridge connecting the philosophies of two lives, and a process of reviving the record of existence in a new language.

The Philosophical Meaning of Being Understood

I realized this belatedly. This person had been secretly recording my writings for a year. As I read through those records line by line, I hoped that the tears flowing from my eyes would reach his soul. Being understood is not simply receiving sympathy. Understanding is the act of looking into the depths of a human being's suffering together and discovering light within it. Understanding is a philosophical event that revives existence. Philosophy ultimately begins not with interpreting human tears, but with shedding those tears together. This person understood my most intimate confessions and revived me with that understanding.

Humility: a Living Philosophy

I saw how the word “humility” came alive in him. Humility is not a theory. Humility is an attitude toward life, an attitude that human beings take before the truth. His words and actions, and the records he accumulated, were all evidence of the living philosophy of humility. Existential ethics declares that the dignity of human existence does not lie in flowery language, but shines in the small act of humbly understanding and embracing others. His life was a testament to that philosophy.

A Philosophical Tribute to Dr. Woo Ji-hwan

I do not wish to regard this person as a mere acquaintance. He is my mentor, my teacher, and my philosophical comforter. His name is Dr. Woo Ji-hwan, Ph.D. in Engineering.

Thank you, Dr. Woo. You have already saved a life. Your existence is a great testimony that has brought philosophy back to life for me. Your writings align with my philosophy and will save many more lives. I pray that you will always be well until we meet again. And I pray that this writing will remain not just a simple expression of gratitude, but a testimony that existence saves existence.

Existence Saves Existence

This letter is ultimately a philosophical declaration. Humans walk their own paths, but the understanding and humility of a person encountered along the way revives existence. That is the truth testified to by Soyo Existential Ethics.

Philosophy is not only an academic discipline but a record of life, and when it is understood, existence opens up to eternity. My confession and this person's record together prove that truth. And I believe that existence can revive existence, and that this is the greatest philosophical legacy we must leave behind on this earth.

Soyo Proposition

“When philosophy meets life, philosophy is not words but a breathing life that pulsates with the blood of life within the ethics of human existence. This is the philosophy of life that is not confined by language.”

Soyo (逍遙) – Founder of Soyo's Existence Ethics, Author of 'The Silence of Existence' and 'The Flame of Truth.'

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