论雅斯贝尔斯“轴心时代”观念的中国思想来源

On Chinese Thoughts' Contribution to Jaspers' Idea of Axial Age

雅斯贝尔斯对"轴心时代"文明之梳理,在很大程度上是考察在人类历史上中国、印度和希腊三种文明是以何种方式达到"统摄"(das Umgreifende)的。而孔子和老子的思想在达至终极真理的方式方面,给予了雅斯贝尔斯以极大的启发。本文考察了中国资源在雅斯贝尔斯"轴心时代"观念形成过程中所起的作用,并进而指出,如果没有中国思想参与的话,"轴心时代"这一概念会不会出现,都是值得考虑的。反过来,正是借助于作为存在哲学大师的雅斯贝尔斯的复述,孔子和老子的思想变得鲜活起来,从而更符合时代的要求。实际上,中国只是雅斯贝尔斯寻求世界文明历史发展进程的一个重要组成部分,他希望通过对世界不同文明发展进程的探寻,来思考和揭示人性存在的现状,进一步发现共同的起源和未来,从而为他的世界哲学理念提供一个更加广泛的基础。

Jaspers＇ organizing of civilization of the Axial Age is, to a great extent, based on the inspection of how the three civilizations of China, India and Greece attained overall command in human history. However, in reaching ultimate truth, the thought of Confucius and Laozi brought Jaspers great enlightenment. This article aims at an investigation into the role that the Chinese resources played when Jasper formed his idea of Axial Age. Furthermore, it points out that without the involvement of the Chinese thought, the idea of Axial Age would not have come into being. These are all factors worthy of serious consideration. On the contrary, it is by means of the repetition of Jasper, the great existentialist philosopher, that the thought of Confucius and Laozi became vivid, thus more adjusted to the needs of times. In fact, China is merely an important part in Jaspers＇ search for the historical development of world civilizations. By exploring developmental processes of different civilizations in the world, he hopes to consider and reveal the status quo of existence of human nature and to discover the common source and future to a higher degree, so that an even wider base can be provided for his global philosophical idea.