Even then, would you say it’s the separation of tasks, don’t intervene, and it has no connection to the parents?
“그럴 때도 과제를 분리해서 개입하지 말아야 하나요? 부모와는 아무 상관 없는 일이라고요?”
PHILOSOPHER: Can he break out of the shut-in situation or not? Or, in what way can he break out of it?
철학자: “그가 상태를 벗어날 수 있을지 없을지, 혹은 어떤 방식으로 벗어날지는,”
In principle, this is a task that the person has to resolve himself. It is not for the parents to intervene.
“원칙적으로 본인이 해결해야 할 과제입니다. 부모가 개입할 문제가 아니지요.”
Nevertheless, as they are not complete strangers, some form of assistance is probably needed.
“그렇다고 부모가 아주 남남인 것은 아니니, 어떤 형태로든 원조는 필요할 겁니다.”
At this point, the most important thing is whether the child feels he can consult frankly with his parents when he is experiencing a dilemma,
“이때 가장 중요한 것은, 아이가 곤경에 처했을 때 부모에게 솔직하게 상의할 수 있느냐,”
and whether they have been building enough of a trust relationship on a regular basis.
“그리고 평소에 충분한 신뢰 관계를 쌓아왔느냐 하는 점입니다.”
YOUTH: Then, suppose your own child had shut himself in, what would you do? Please answer this not as a philosopher but as a parent.
청년: “그럼 만약 선생님의 자녀가 방 안에 틀어박혔다면 어떻게 하시겠습니까? 철학자가 아니라 부모로서 대답해 주세요.”
PHILOSOPHER: First, I myself would think, This is the child’s task.
철학자: “우선 저라면 ‘이것은 아이의 과제다’라고 생각할 겁니다.”
I would try not to intervene in his shut-in situation, and I would refrain from focusing too much attention on it.
“아이가 처한 상황에 개입하지 않으려 노력하고, 그 문제에 너무 지나친 관심을 쏟지도 않겠지요.”
Then I would send a message to him to the effect that I am ready to assist him whenever he is in need.
“대신 도움이 필요할 때는 언제든 도울 준비가 되어 있다는 메시지를 보낼 겁니다.”
In that way, the child, having sensed a change in his parent, will have no choice but to make it his own task to think about what he should do.
“그러면 부모의 변화를 감지한 아이는 무엇을 해야 할지 스스로 생각할 수밖에 없게 됩니다.”
He’ll probably come and ask for assistance, and he’ll probably try to work some things out on his own.
“도움을 청하러 올 수도 있고, 스스로 해결해보려고 노력할 수도 있겠지요.”