“述而不作”的现代意义

Modern Significance of "Transmitting without Making-up"

中国近代将"创新"与"保守"看作价值相反的两极,孔子的"述而不作"的文化态度便成为孔学研究的一个争论焦点。事实是,任何文明或文化要平稳前进,必须有"创新"和"保守"两股力量。对于孔子的"述而不作",我们不必讳言"保守",亦不能讥其"保守"。进言之,对于中国近代思想史来说,孔子的"述而不作",正可以纠现代学人一味"创新"之偏。

In modern China,since ‘innovation＇ and ‘conservation＇ have been taken as opposite values,Confucius′ ‘transmitting without making-up＇ has become a question at stake. In fact,every civilization or culture requisites both ‘conservation＇ and ‘innovation＇ in order to move forward smoothly. For Confucius′ ‘transmitting without making-up＇, we should not be afraid of its ‘conservatism＇. Nor should we laugh at its ‘conservatism＇. Furthermore, for the history of Chinese modern thoughts, Confucius′ ‘transmitting without making-up＇ can help rectify modern intellectuals′ overemphasis on ‘innovation＇.