定义与系统:中国哲学与西方哲学之别与结合的可能性

Chinese Philosophy and Western Philosophy:the Differences and the Possibility of Combination

本文将西方哲学与古典中国哲学所重视的方向做比较。我们发现,除了墨家之外,中国古典哲学不那么重视定义,反而重视成语的使用以及思想家的高智灵感,知道在某场合中如何使用适当的语言来诠释。西方哲学重视系统的传统与印欧系语言有密切关系。西方哲学重视某物的单独存在,中国哲学则重视物与物之关连;西方追求某物的明确定义才讲它与万物的关系,中国哲学则从流动的道或太极图把物与物的彼此互相关系当作某物的不能缺乏的因素。不过,近代西方哲学已不追求定义与系统,同时张岱年先生与其它中国哲学家愿意使用定义和系统来诠释中国哲学。中西方哲学两者的碰面对哲学界有独特的贡献。

This paper compares the focus of western philosophy with the classical Chinese philosophy. We found that, except Mozi, the classical Chinese philosophy does not pay much attention to definitions. Rather, it pays attention to idioms and the environment at which the appropriate words being used. The tradition of system- oriented western philosophy had intimate relationship with the Indian and European language system. While the western philosophy focus on the independent existence of a subject, Chinese philosophy focus on the relationship between subjects. The combination of Chinese and western philosophy will make unique contribution to philosophies.