王弼哲学的本体论特征

On the Ontological Characteristics of Wang Bis Philosophy

从王弼重新诠释老子哲学的个案说明 :在中国传统哲学形上学中 ,有本源论与本体论之区分。本源论的特点 ,是通过揭示由终极本源到万物的生成过程 ,来说明万物的现存状况与变化规则。本源与万物的关系 ,为实存物之间的关系 ,本源之化生万物 ,是在时间中进行的。本体论则是追寻万物得以存在与发生作用的终极性统一依据的理论。本体与末用的区分 ,是借逻辑认知得以成立的。末用被视为可以认知的相对有限的经验世界 ,本体则是被逻辑置定的具有超越意义的绝对无限存在。至于王弼哲学本体论之强调“以无为本” ,则表现了他对经验世界与经验知识的独特看法 ,和对现存社会政治文化的批判取向。

From Wang Bis reinterpretation of the philosophy of Lao Zi, we can see that there is the distinction between cosmology and ontology in traditional Chinese metaphysics. The way of cosmology is to reveal the process of becoming from the ultimate beginning to all kinds of beings in order to explain the present state and the law of changes. The relation between the ultimate beginning and beings is the relation between actual beings. The ultimate beginning creates beings in the process of time. The way of ontology is to seek the ultimate unifying reasons for the existence and functioning of all kinds of beings. The difference between the ontological being and its function can be established by logical knowing. The ontological being is recognized by logic as absolutely limitless being in the sense of transcendence.