Confucian scholars of Joseon Korea carried out a philosophical debate on what
they referred to as the original nature of humans versus non-human beings
including animals. This debate arose from the correspondence between two
followers of the Zhu Xi School in Korea, Oeam and Namdang, in 1709. The
main question of the debate was whether humans and other beings including
animals have equal natures. Following them, many scholars engaged in the
debate, dividing into two groups: Nak-ron 洛論 and Ho-ron 湖論. Nak-ron scholars
thought that the original nature of humans and other non-human beings
was equal. Ho-ron scholars thought that the original nature of humans was
different than that of other beings. According to Nak-ron opinion, animals
inherently possessed a morality equal to the morality of humans. According to
Ho-ron opinion, animals also possessed a morality; however, because the temperaments
of animals were considered inferior to those of humans, the morality
of animals was also considered inferior to the morality of humans.