【學苑春秋】從余英時觀點初探中國古代「心」之思想起源及特色－「跨文化」視域下的解讀

On the Philosophical Origins and Characteristics of Xin in Ancient China from Yu Ying-Shi's Points of View: A Cross-Cultural Perspective

林建德(Chien-Te Lin)

《東華漢學》 28期 (2018/12) Pp. 225-268

摘要

「心」是當今學界熱門課題，但「心」若放在中國哲學的脈絡中，卻有相當不同的理解意義，本文即試著以余英時觀點來探討中國古代「心」之思想起源及特色。首先說明中國所經歷的「軸心突破」，乃是對於「巫」文化之反動，以「心」取代「巫」之中介功能，促成了中國古代「心」之思想起源，視「心」為一切價值之源，「心」的背後含蘊濃厚的「道德」意識，奠定中國心性之學暨「內向超越」的傳統。如此背景下「心」之思想特色，本文列舉四點：以心性之學取代宗教、在現實生活中追求超越成聖、以「心」導向價值自覺與意義探索及心理學與倫理學合一。總結認為，此以成聖暨身心修養為主調的心性思想，截然不同於科學進路的研究，其既不在於研究「腦」，也並非在於研究「行為」。「心」之概念為一價值（axiological）相關的語彙，「心」密切關乎「道」，而未必僅是一生物性、生理性的指涉而已。如此「心」與「道」相合，可以看出中國探討「心」的向度，迥異於現今主流學界之預設；但也正因大不相同，值得我們從「跨文化」的視域中深入的對比、探討之。

關鍵字

跨文化 ； 軸心突破 ； 巫 ； 心 ； 道德 ； 內向超越

並列摘要

Mind is a hot topic in present academic circles, however within the context of Chinese Philosophy, Xin is interpreted in distinctly different ways to ＂Mind.＂ This article attempts to explore the origins and characteristics of Xin in ancient China based on Yu Ying-Shi's point of view. The article firstly deals with the ＂Axial breakthrough＂ that took place in China, whereby Xin came to replace the role of the ＂shaman＂ (Wu) as the primary mediator. Xin came to be regarded as the source of all values and the embodiment of a solid moral foundation. This shift helped lay the foundation for the Chinese philosophy of mind and the tradition of ＂inward transcendence.＂ Against this backdrop, four characteristics of Xin are listed: the role of the theory of mind as an alternative to religion, the theory of mind allows for the pursuit of transcendence and realizing sainthood in actual daily life, how cultivation of Xin leads to the discovery of value and meaning, and the unifying role it plays between psychology and ethics. In conclusion, the theory of Xin is built around the theme of transcendence, and is aimed neither at discovering the mechanisms of ＂brain＂ nor decoding ＂behavior,＂ thus it is clearly different from the scientific approach to mind. Furthermore, the concept of Xin is an axiological term closely related to Tao, rather than being merely a biological or physiological referent. Through the unification of Xin and Tao, the Chinese approach to the theory of mind becomes clear. Although it is rather different to the current approach taken by scientific research, inquiry into these differences can be immensely meaningful in the context of cross-cultural exploration.

並列關鍵字

Cross-Cultural ； Axial Breakthrough ； Wu/Shaman ； Xin/Mind ； Morality ； Inward Transcendence

參考文獻

〔清〕閻若璩，《尚書古文疏證》。上海：上海古籍出版社，1987。

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