实践理性抑或象征理性--萨林斯对形式主义知识体系的解构与反思

Practical Reason or Symbolic Reason: Marshall Sahlins’Deconstruction and Reflection on Knowledge System of Formalism

萨林斯从象征理性层面,对形式主义知识传统进行了全面解构,形成了文化理性制约经济实践、物质实践由文化构成的著名命题。萨林斯批判了功利主义人性论,探讨了西方人性中关于"罪恶"、"利己"和"需求"等观念的道德根源,认为这种人性观是西方宗教宇宙观在现代社会的复归。最后,他基于对部落民族经济社会关系实践逻辑的考察,驳斥了经济理性、理性选择、理性人等抽象观念,赋予了人类经济行为以坚实的文化基础。但由于过度强调文化因素,萨林斯陷入了文化决定论困境,他忽视了多种文明形态中人类经济社会行为逻辑的多重性与复杂性。

Sahlin deconstructed the knowledge system of formalism from symbolic reason. A famous proposition formed in his ideology which culture reason restricted economic practice and the material practice was constituted by culture. He criticized utilitarianism, and discussed about the moral origin of the idea of ＂sin＂, ＂selfish＂ and ＂needs＂ in western humanity. He insisted that this idea was the revival of Western religious cosmology in modem society. After investigating the practical logic of social economic relationship in tribal societies, Sahlin refuted these concepts namely economic reason, rational choice, rational man, and endowed the human economic behavior with solid cultural foundation. But due to stress excessively on the cultural factors, Sahlin immersed in dilemma of cultural determinism, he ignored the multiplicity and complexity of human social economic behavior logic in different societies and civilizations.