《俄狄浦斯王》:启蒙浪潮下传统信仰的更新

Oedipus the King: Renovation of Traditional Faith in the Wave of Enlightenment

在《俄狄浦斯王》中,索福克勒斯思考的一个重大问题就是传统信仰如何应对当时汹涌澎湃的启蒙浪潮。一方面,通过俄狄浦斯运用理性和智慧猜出谜语、追查凶手等等行为,索福克勒斯向我们表明了理性和智慧的重要性和必要性;同时,俄狄浦斯并没有在理性和智慧的基础上走向对理性自律的信奉,反而恰恰坚定持守着传统信仰,由此在启蒙浪潮中,信仰完全可以接纳理性和智慧。然而,索福克勒斯更进一步地揭示,俄狄浦斯所坚守的传统信仰,只是由人的意志和意愿所投射的不纯净的信仰。因而在信仰接纳理性和智慧的同时,必须净化信仰本身,坚持神的绝对自由、奥秘和超越,从而走向传统信仰的更新。

One of the important issues which Sophocles reflects in Oedipus the King is how the traditional faith responds to the strong enlightenment wave at that time. On one hand, Sophocles confirms the necessity and importance of reason and wisdom through the narration of how Oedipus gives answer to the riddle, and how he finds out the real murderer by means of his own reason and wisdom. On the other hand, Sophocles argues that reason and wisdom could be absorbed into faith, because Oedipus, though in possession of reason and wisdom, is still a finn believer in the traditional faith rather than a believer in the self-discipline of reason. However, Sophocles observes that the traditional faith in which Oedipus believes firmly is an impure faith projecting human will and desire. Therefore, besides taking in reason and wisdom, the traditional faith should also be purified. It should insist on the absolute freedom, mystery and transcendence of the gods. This is the innovation of the traditional faith in the wave of enlightenment.