《老子》“知”论新探

A New Perspective into the Doctrine of “Knowledge” in Lao Zi

《老子》的"知"论是立基于这样一种"常道"观念:"常道"并不外在于天地万物,而是作为其本性寓于天地万物之中。老子"知常"论的核心观点在于:对"常道"的认识应当且必须通过"自知"途径来达成。这种"自知"以"致虚极,守静笃"的修心功夫为基础:一方面是遵循"既得其母,以知其子"的认知逻辑而达到"得道"与"知天下"相互统一的"知常";另一方面是遵循"既知其子,复守其母"的行动逻辑而达到"知天下"与"守道"互相统一的"观复"。"知常"是"观复"的前提,"观复"是认知主体在自适其本性的生活实践中自我体会其本性的妙用,并借助于这种自我体会来达到对"道"的妙用的体认。

The doctrine of"knowledge"in Laozi is based on the concept of"the everlasting Tao":"The everlasting Tao"is not external to the world,but resides in the world by its nature.The core of Laozi’s theory of"knowing nature"is that the understanding of"the everlasting Tao"should and must be achieved through"self-knowledge".This"self-knowledge"is based on the mind-cultivation skill that"the(state of)vacancy should be brought to the utmost degree,and that of stillness guarded with unwearying vigor":on the one hand,it follows the cognitive logicthat"once you have found the mother,thereby you know the child"to achieve the unity of"knowing the Tao"and"knowing the world":"knowing nature";on the other hand,it follows the action logic of"once you know the child,you return to keep the mother"to achieve the unity of"knowing the world"and"keeping the Tao":"observing the cycle"."Knowing nature"is the prerequisite of"observing the cycle",and the latter is the cognitive subject’s skillful use of its self-understanding of its nature in the life practice of self-adaption of its nature,as well as its insights into the skillful use of the"Tao"with the help of this self-understanding.