对于美国之中国哲学研究生项目的现状反思

Some Reflections on the Status of Chinese Philosophy in U.S.Graduate Programs

在美国高等教育尤其是人文类学科不景气的背景下,美国的中国哲学研究生项目也面临着较大压力。当前美国哲学界的主流是分析哲学。而中国哲学许多重要典籍注重探讨人生体验,并且主要采取间接的、隐喻的言说方式。分析哲学家应当注意到中国哲学的重大价值,事实上,两者在道德心理学领域和经验性研究方面的对话与会通已经呈现显著动向。在博士研究生项目的申请者中,既具有必要的分析能力又对中国哲学抱有浓厚兴趣的学生,占比确实还很小,但这个比例正在持续上升。促进哲学研究的多样化,拓宽我们对哲学是什么以及哲学应该是什么的理解,是一项艰巨而具有重大价值的工作。

With the depressed economic situation of American higher education,especially in the humanities,U.S.Graduate Programs in Chinese Philosophy are under pressure while analytic philosophy departments are dominant in the American community.Great value should be seen in Chinese philosophy,many great texts of which are primarily focused on life experience that often requires indirect and metaphorical articulation.One significant trend in the interaction between analytic and Chinese philosophy lies in the field of moral psychology and the empirically informed work of philosophers.It seems that the pool of applicants to competitive Ph.D.graduate programs is gradually increasing the proportion of students(still admittedly very small)who have the analytic skills necessary to qualify for entrance and who have interest in Chinese philosophy either as a possible specialty or a competence.The kind of diversity that involves broadening conceptions of what philosophy is and should be may be the most difficult but worthwhile to promote.