布特曼的〈真理與確知〉在神學方法論的應用

布特曼在〈真理與確知〉一文中的論述，可稱為神學方法論(Methodologie der Theologie)的討論。布特曼在文中分析，如一般學科的探討，是以研究對象來決定研究的路徑和方法，神學也應由其研究對象：神來決定。但神非物(Gegenstand)，祂超越了人的理性可以把握、分析，不是人可以藉由觀察而後規定研究方法。人要描述神的真理就必須經歷神的揭示，必須在他的存在中經歷神向他揭開神的實在性(Wirklichkeit)。這個過程布特曼稱之為「瞬間」的真理：在此時此在中，抉擇向神的話順服而得的理解。神學的建構於是並非尋求客觀的表述語句，而正是要以「信」(Glauben)、以信仰的語句來表達從神給出的真理。布特曼為此進路的有效性詳細論述，提出神學真理至終要以主體的信、確知為基礎。本論文首先提出西方哲學傳統中對真理概念觀點的變遷，以說明不同的真理觀和方法論。進而分析布特曼的〈真理與確知〉與神學建構的關係，以及與哲學真理觀和方法論之異同。之後提出維根斯坦後期在《確知》中所反思的、不同於分析哲學所持的客觀真理的定義，以為布特曼論「信」與「確知」作為神學方法的基礎的有效性之支持。

關鍵字

真理；確知；信；神學方法論

並列摘要

To a certain extent, in his essay ”Truth and Certainty”, R. Bultmann's major concern concentrated on the essential problems that the methodology of theological studies could have. He argued that the methodology of theology should be defined by its object: God, just like methodologies of other sciences which are determined by the objects observed and studied, too. Yet the problem here is that God is neither an object nor a thing which can be seen or touched. On the contrary, He transcends the reason of human beings. Neither can He be caught nor analyzed by and through human's mind or intelligence. Therefore, starting with observation and then setting up a research design to study Him is doomed to failure. Bultmann claimed, if anyone ever tries to describe the truth of God, he should first experience God's disclosure, that is, he should experience in his existence that God uncovers His reality to him. Bultmann described this process as the truth of ”the moment” (Augenblick): Here and now I decide to obey God's Word, through that I obtain my realization of His Word as well as my existence. Out of this reason, theology or theological studies should not be constructed by making statements of objective description, but rather via the way of ”belief” in order to express the truth of God in the sentences of believing. Bultmann justified the validity of this approach: subject-orientation (Subjektivierung) in the methodology of theology. He claimed that it is as legitimate as other sciences could claim. In this text I shall first trace and delineate the concepts of truth in the western philosophical tradition and explain briefly the differences of the perspectives and methods, upon which their arguments and theories are based. Then I shall analyze Bultmann's ”Truth and Certainty” and its relations to theological construction. I will also display the differences of perspectives between theology and philosophy concerning the conception of truth, which were emphasized by Bultmann in the essay. Finally, I shall discuss the arguments proposed in the later Wittgensteinean thoughts, in which Wittgenstein reflected the definition of truth and certainty from the basis of language game and criticized the objective truth in analytical philosophy and positivism. The reflections of Wittgenstein can be seen as support for the validity of Bultmann's theological approach.