“文明”话语的意蕴——一个语言哲学分析的初步尝试

The Meaning of the Term of Civilization:An Preliminary Linguistic Philosophy Analysis

“文明”是全球化时代人们透视社会问题的重要话语方式之一。通过对“文明”的哲学语言学分析,可以帮助我们澄清这一话语方式的多重意蕴,同时也可以使哲学在与主流话语方式的对话中得到发展。从“文明”话语的起源和演变看,文明与在城市中的生活秩序相关,与启蒙理性密不可分。从“文明”的用法看,它意味着有教养的行为、社会发展的积极成果、一定的社会形态和一定的文化认同。“文明”话语的上述分析可以使我们更自觉地认识到人们在使用“文明”一词时关于该词的“前理解”,以及这个词的边界范围,从而更加合理地在研究和讨论文明问题时运用这一话语方式。

＂ Civilization＂ is an important term which we use to discuss the social problems in the times of globalization. We can clarify its different kinds of meanings through a linguistic philosophy analysis. From the analysis of the origin of the term of civilization, we find that it is connected with the city life, and with the rationalistic tradition of the Enlightenment. From the analysis of the usage of the term, we find that it means the grace or rational behavior, the affirmative fruit of the social development, the definite social form, and the definite cultural self- identity. The above analysis can help us reach a self - conscious of the pre - understanding of the use of the term in the discussion and the study of the problem of civilization.