对“天定胜人”的现代思考

ON THE ANCIENT THOUGHT OF “NATURE CAN CONQUER MAN BY ITS WILL”

“天定胜人”与“人定胜天”在古文献中经常同时出现,表现了认识人与自然的关系的两个侧面。本文列举历史上的记载,指出一些辞书注释的错误和不足,探讨其正确含义,论述了两个命题间的辩证关系。在尊重和保护自然、强调“统筹人与自然和谐发展”的今天,重新认识“天定胜人”的积极意义很有必要。今天我们需要这样解读“天定胜人”:它提醒人们关注自然的存在,做任何事不得违背自然规律;它否定人类的自私、贪婪和傲慢,对于斗胆冒犯自然的行为起到震慑作用;它要求人类按照“人与天调”的理念,沿正确方向发展技术。今天,人们更迫切地感到,技术发展必须考虑环境和条件。笔者提出: (1)技术受限于内外条件,而且必须付出代价; (2)技术本身不可能彻底消除技术事故和灾难; (3)技术可以局部模拟自然,不可能再造自然; (4)技术必须建立符合环保的标准,获得新生。

In ancient Chinese books, the following two opinions are often found at the same time —“Nature can conquer man” and “Man can conquer nature”, which show both sides in understanding the relationship between human being and nature. The author lists the records in history, pointing out the errors, mistakes and deficiencies. The author discusses the relationship between these two propositions by interpreting the correct meaning of these records. Nowadays, it is stressed that the laws of nature should be observed and nature should be protected, and also the opinion that “nature and man shall develop harmoniously as a whole” is strongly advocated. Today, we need to understand “Nature can conquer man” in a way that it reminds people of the existence of nature, and the laws of nature should not be violated no matter what people do. It negates the human being’s selfishness, avarice and arrogance, and frightens those who dare to offend nature. In a word, it requires man to develop technology in a right way in accordance with the idea that “man and nature develop harmoniously as a whole” Now people feel more imminent that environmental and objective conditions must be considered when devoloping technology. The author proposes that technology be constrained by inner and outer objective conditions, and it must pay up the price in its development; that technology itself not be absolutely eliminate the technological accidents and disasters; that technology should simulate pare of nature without creating nature; that an environment protection standard should be worked out so that technology would get a new start.