《老子》“无为”“不争”范畴新析——从该书相关范畴关系的角度

Revisiting the Concepts of Lao Zi's "Inaction" and "Non-contention":A Study of the Relationship between Related Concepts in Lao Zi

"无为"与"不争"是《老子》一书中的两个重要范畴,探讨其含义应与老子书中其他相关范畴结合起来分析,在范畴间的关系中加以把握。老子的"无为"思想不仅与其伦理、政治思想有关,还与其本体思想、认识论有关。"无为"的含义可从两方面理解:一是因其自然又不违万物之自然,二是"同于道"。"不争"范畴也可从两方面分析:一是"善下之"、"后其身"等,二是"少私"、"寡欲"、"知足"等。"无为"与"不争"两个范畴有区别也有关系,在老子思想中"无为"可视作高于"不争"的范畴。

Inaction and Non-contention are two major concepts in the book of Lao Zi. This paper argues that in order to explore the meanings of these two concepts readers should combine them with other related concepts in the book thereby understanding their true meaning from the relations between those concepts. Lao Zi＇ s conception of ＂Inaction＂ relates not only to ethics and political ideas, but also to his own ontology and epistemology. The concept of Inaction can be approached from two perspectives： {1} keeping one＇s nature and conduct consistent with the laws of nature, and {2} ＂assimilation into Tao＂. Likewise, the concept of Non-contention can also be analyzed in two ways： { 1 ） ＂taking a lower position＂, ＂putting oneself behind others＂, etc., and {2） ＂discarding selfishness＂, ＂denying desires＂, ＂feeling contented＂, etc. The two concepts are differentiated and connected at the same time, with Inaction being a higher concept than Non-contention in Lao Zi＇s theory.