“学”何以能“乐”——《论语》“学而时习”章解义

Why can“xue” lead to “le”——Interpretation of the Chapter“Xue Er Shi Xi” in the Analects

《论语·学而》首章三句话,有着内在的意义关联。“有明而乐”、“人不知不愠”,讲的是人的生活和德性修养之事。学所以能“乐”,乃在于这“学”是表现整体生命的“学”,而不单纯以知识技艺为内容。孔子并不否定知识技艺,他对知识技艺的态度,可以用“游于艺”一语来概括。生命要由“道(德、仁)”为人的分化了的现实存有奠基,并起到整合的作用。人通过道德修养的路,才能达到存在的真实。“学”,保持在它的生命整体的意义中,才能是“乐”。

In the first chapter of the Analects （Xue Er）, the three sentences in the beginning has its immanent meaningful conjunction. “delightful for coming of friend”.“to remain unsoured even though be unrecognized by others” talks about the issues of one＇s living and caring of his moral character. The reason why can “xue” lead to “le” lles that “xue” exhibits the entirety of life, rather than solely refers to knowledge and artistry. Confucius did not deny the value of knowledge and artistry. His attitude about this, however, can be summarized as “roaming in artistry”. Life must lay a foundation on “Tao （De or Yin）”, because of the disintegrated man＇s realistic being, and take its role as integrator. One can only gets to real being but by caring of his moral character. Only keeping “xue” in the entirety of life, can you be true “le”.