- 學位論文
對《真理與方法》中「權威」、「傳統」與「經典」的詮釋學循環及宗教向度之省思
REFLECTING ON THE HERMENEUTICAL CIRCLE AND RELIGIOUS DIMENSION OF "AUTHORITY”, “TRADITION” AND “CLASSICAL”IN "TRUTH AND METHOD"
摘要
中文摘要 權威究為何解？傳統又是何指？經典是為何物？權威與傳統的作用動力是什麼？它們為何存在？如何存在？其存在的價值與意義為何──「權威」、「傳統」是人類文明進步的絆腳石嗎？亦或是人類理解自身生存的基石？如何看待「權威」、「傳統」和「經典」的相互關係，以及與人的關係並恰當地陳述呢？而所描述的「權威」、「傳統」、「經典」與人的關係，究竟會是何種關係呢？所揭示的是甚麼？人作為這樣描述之下的存在，是如何的一種存在？這樣的存在可以在宗教與人的關係中展現嗎？這種關係可以被用來建構一種宗教對話與交談的平台嗎？ 德國哲人高達美，在其力作《真理與方法》中提出不同於社會學、心理學、政治學以及倫理學的視域，來回答「權威」、「傳統」與「經典」是什麼以及由此而派生的哲思。他所提出的觀點或可為現今因全球化與多元中心等問題而紛擾不休的宗教衝突景況提供一條出路。 所以本論文乃以《真理與方法》中對「權威」、「傳統」與「經典」所作的探究為基礎。企盼借由討論「權威」、「傳統」與「經典」的詮釋學循環關係，來看人類如何在權威、傳統與經典中展現理解的活動並生存的實況。 「權威」、「傳統」與「經典」的詮釋學循環關係，是由人類的理性精神而開展、顯露出來，並保存在經典中，進一步再由人類精神運動中的判斷力作出選擇，最後由教化等群體意志活動完成承傳，至終形成穩固的「權威－傳統－經典」模式。而此一模式借由集體性精神的普遍化，上昇為信心（念），並以信心（念）為一反饋作用力及於教化等精神活動之中，最後回到權威和傳統而完成一個循環。 此一循環模式，不但與人類的精神活動密不可分，更進一步地顯示出人類生存的境況。也就是，權威和傳統形成了人類理性活動的條件，提供卻也限定了一個人的視域，以看似被動而實為主動的精神力量，在大量的歷史流傳物中，特別是經典和語言當中進行保存與創造的工作。 所以，我們可以知道此一循環不再是屬於個別的個人或集體的精神，它乃是屬於它自身的，它已然成為獨立於人理性精神之外的另一精神體或精神結構，此精神對存在於此間的人而言，在宗教的向度上，是我們不斷與之對話的永恆的「祢」，是我們論及永恆時共同的「祂」；而其歷史性就是「權威」、「傳統」與「經典」的詮釋學循環。而此一循環具體而微的顯露，也就是保存於經典、語言和宗教儀禮、慶典之中的存在，此存在的具體事實則是精神為我們所開出的，一條宗教對話之路，因為宗教的對話，就是「權威－傳統－經典」之詮釋學循環的對話。
並列摘要
Abstract How do you explain “authority”? What does “tradition” mean? What does “the classics” refer to? What are the motives for “authority” and “tradition” to perform their function? Why and how do they exist? What is their value and significance? Are “authority” and “tradition” obstacles to the development of civilization? Or are they the very foundation for human to understand the meaning of their existence? How can one properly treat the interrelationship of “authority,” “tradition” and “the classics”? How can one properly treat and describe the relationship between man and the three above-mentioned subjects? What kind of relationship is it? What does it reveal? What kind of existence is it when we discuss man in the above-mentioned description? Can we see this kind of existence being revealed in the relationship of religion and man? Can this relationship be treated as a platform to establish religious dialogue? In his remarkable work Truth and Method, German philosopher Hans-George Gadamer discusses the following topics from a dimension which is different from that of sociology, psychology, political science and ethics. First, what is “authority,” “tradition” and “the classics”? Secondly, what are some philosophical reflections derived from the first topic? His viewpoint may point a way out in the midst of today’s religious conflicts resulted from Globalization and Pluralism. Based on the profound discussions of “authority,” “tradition” and “the classics” in Truth and Method, this thesis hopes to take a deeper look at how people understand “authority,” “tradition” and “the classics” and how people live in the relationship of those three subjects through the discussion of “the hermeneutical circle of authority, tradition and the classics.” “The hermeneutical circle of authority, tradition and the classics” begins with and is expressed in rational spirit and then kept in “the classics.” It follows by choosing and judging through human spiritual activity and to pass on through collective will activity such as cultivation. It ultimately establishes a well-built “authority– tradition –the classics” pattern. Through the generalization of the collective spirit, this pattern transforms to faith which creates feedback to spiritual activities such as cultivation. It finally comes back to “authority” and “tradition.” This circle is closely related to the spiritual activities of human beings; in addition, it shows the real condition of human beings. Which means, “authority” and “tradition” create the conditions of human rational activities and at the same time become the very limitation for one’s horizon. Their seemingly passive spiritual power actively preserves and creates through massive amount of traditions, particularly through the classics and language. Therefore, we realize that this circle is no longer an individual or collective spirit; it is a spirit of its own. It has become another spiritual existence or spiritual system which is separated from human rational spirit. Looking from the religious perspective, for those that are still living, this spiritual existence is the eternal “You” whom we continue to communicate; it is the “Him” when we talk about eternity in a group. Historically speaking, this spiritual existence equals to “the hermeneutical circle of authority, tradition and the classics.” The concrete expression of this circle is the existence that is preserved in the classics, language, religious rituals and ceremonies. And the circle reveals itself as a pathway for religious dialogue created by the spirit. To sum it up, religious dialogue is the dialogue of “hermeneutical circle of authority, tradition and the classics.”