王阳明中晚年工夫论的转折与连续

The Transition and Continuity of Wang Yangming’s Efforts Theory from His Mid-life to Late-life

在龙场至平藩阶段,阳明工夫论的焦点乃是克服支离,使工夫具有切要性。他认为,格物工夫唯有以诚意为统领来实施,才能避免支离之弊,真正克服私欲对心之本体的遮蔽,从而实现成圣的终极目标。对这一阶段的阳明来说,关注焦点虽不在工夫是否受到本体指引和推动的问题上,但由诚意统领的格物工夫,以及其他指点语所示的工夫,却并非没有本体的指引和推动,亦即并非不是本体工夫。而1520年致良知宗旨的提出,将本体问题凸显出来。本体工夫成为阳明在工夫问题上关注的焦点,由此阳明工夫论推进到一个新的阶段。

In his middle age,the focus of Wang Yangming’s efforts theory is on overcoming fragmentation,thus rendering the efforts consistent.In Wang’s opinion,only when ruled by sincerity in the study of the nature of things can one overcome selfish desires,leaving fragmentation,and eventually succeeding in becoming a sage.In this stage of his thought,although he doesn’t focus on the foundation of efforts,nevertheless such efforts are not without their basis.The foundation of efforts does not manifested until Wang’s later years when he put forward the principle of consciousness.Therefore,the focus on the foundation of efforts thus herald a new chapter of Wang’s efforts theory.