儒学知识化与现代学术

Intellectualization of Confucianism and Modern Academic System

近年来,中文学术界不时出现一种声音,批判现代儒学知识化的趋势。不少人强调:传统儒学是一套关于生命的学问,而不只是一套知识系统;它是一套整体的学问,无法被纳入现代的学科分类之中。他们忧虑:在现代西方的学术体制中,传统儒学会被割裂,因而丧失其主体性与生命力。在有关"中国哲学的合法性(正当性)"之争论中,也不时冒出这类的声音。这种忧虑自有其道理,但亦有其盲点。因为传统学术的专业化不仅是中国传统,也是西方传统(如西方神学)所要面对的问题。现代学术体制的形成有其历史背景,它固然有所遮蔽,亦有所开显。将传统儒学纳入现代学术体制而知识化,固然有所失,但亦有所得,因为这可以开启儒学对现代社会的批判功能。

Quite a few Chinese scholars have already taken issue with the increasing intellectualization of modern Confucianism. They argue that traditional Confucianism is a learning of life rather than a system of knowledge, and that incorporating it into modern academic disciplines will only departmen- talize it and threaten its life. People fear for the integrity and subjectivity of traditional Confucianism. Such a view is shared by some in the recent debate over ＂the legitimacy of Chinese philosophy. ＂ Such a position has its insight as well as blindness. First, specialization of traditional learning in modern times is not a Chinese problem alone, Western cultural traditions （for example, Western theology） have to deal with the same issue. Second, the emergence of modern academic system has its inherent logic and reason, along with strength and weakness. The intellectualization of traditional Confucianism mirrors the same situation; it gains something and loses something in the process. Most importantly, intellectualization of Confucianism acquires a critical function with which it can engage in problems of modern society directly.