西方古典哲学本质主义思维方式的演进

On Evolvement of the Essentialist Mode of Thinking in Western Classical Philosophy

本质主义比逻各斯主义更能精准地揭示西方古典哲学思维方式的特质。本质主义的思维方式认定并相信任何事物都有一个深藏在其外在形态之中的本质,从而把揭示事物的本质视为哲学认识的目的,把反映事物本质的知识称作真知识,而视其他知识为意见或谬误。柏拉图的"型相实在论"确立了一个求真和求实的基本思维模式。西塞罗接受了柏拉图的本质主义,为希腊哲学思维在罗马世界的普及和运用,为西方本质主义的思维方式的拉丁化做了关键性的转化工作。奥古斯丁注重内在意识确定性的阐发,使西方本质主义的思维方式内化,昭示了西方哲学下一步发展的方向。柏拉图、西塞罗、奥古斯丁三位哲学家最适宜充当西方古典哲学主流精神发展的三根标杆。

Essentialism is a word better than logos-ism to be used to expound the basic character of mode of thinking in Western ancient philosophy. It believes and affirms that there is an essence which is deeply concealed in the external body of all things, so that it is the purpose of philosophical investi- gation to reveal the essence, the knowledge which reflected the essence is true and real and the others is false and not real. Plato＇s theory of forms established a basic mode of thinking to seek true and re- al. Cicero accepted Plato＇s theory and used it to every branch of learning. He successfully transformed the Greek essentialism into Latin culture, made it popular and expanded in the Roman world. Augustine put an effort on the certainty of inner consciousness, which ted later philosopher to work continually to this direction. Plato, Cicero and Augustine fit to be three mark poles of the development of Western essentialism.