“向死而生”:先秦儒道哲学立论方式辨正——兼与海德格尔的“为死而在”比较

"Live Facing Death": An Argument of Confucianism and Taoism in the Pre-Chin Dynasty and a Comparison with Heidegger's "Being towards Death"

以孔子、庄子为代表的先秦儒道哲学的立论方式是"向死而生",即面对鬼神的不可靠、不可知,在实用理性的观照下,以彻底的悲剧意识为动力,建立起超越生死的哲学体系。"未知生,焉知死",将鬼神、死亡等只能在理论上悬置的问题在践行中加以解决,斩断了鬼神、死亡与人的价值建立之间的联系;"朝闻道,夕死可矣"将人的全部价值限定于"闻道",从而超越了死亡;"不怨天,不尤人",剪除了外在因素,建立起人的自足性;"不知命,无以为君子也",把人的目的最终着落在虚灵的"天命"上;"至人无己,神人无功,圣人无名",是面对人的有限性建立起的审美人生。这些都是在"哲学突破"时期先秦思想面对理性的限度时做出的"向死而生"的转向,与海德格尔的"为死而在"形成鲜明的对比。

The basic way of argument of Confucianism and Taoism in the PreChin Dynasty can be gen eralized as ＂live facing death＂, which means that when confronting unknowable and nonreasonable gods, spirits of the dead and some other supernatural beings, the Chinese usually apply practical rea son to settle down themselves upon real life, using the thorough tragic consciousness as life motives to establish their unique transcendental philosophy. ＂while you don＇t know about life, how can you know about death＂, which means that life questions about gods and death can be solved in real life practice, thereby cutting off the relations between gods, death and the establishment of human life value. ＂I would not regret dying in the evening provided I would have gained Tao in the morning＂, which means that individual＇s value in his whole life should aim for learning Tao so one can live beyond death. ＂Nei ther complaining to fate, nor blaming others＂ means that one should be selfcontained and seeking for one＇s own unstrained spiritual freedom by promoting internal moral cultivation instead of being effected by external factors. ＂Without recognizing the decree of fate, it is impossible to be a superior man＂ means that the final purpose of human life is meant to be fully implemented upon the mandate of heav en which is both realistic and transcendent. ＂The perfect man ignores self~ the divine man ignores a chievement~ the true Sage ignores reputation＂ means pursuing aesthetic and free mind in the limited or dinary life. All above can be summarized as a change of thought direction in philosophy breakthrough time, when wise philosophers both from Confucian and Taoist school in the PreChin Dynasty were confronted with the dilemma of the limits of reason. It also makes a sharp contrast with ＂being towards death＂ in Heidegger＇s Existentialism philosophy.