“和”“同”之辨及其哲学意蕴

Distinguishing "Conformity (HE)" and "Submission (TONG)"and Its Philosophical Implications

中国哲学很早便对“和”与“同”作了区分 ,其中的主导观念则是“和而不同”。“和”既涉及存在的本然形态 ,并相应地具有本体论的意义 ;又展开为价值观上的应然。作为本体论的规定 ,“和”以多样性的统一或有差别的统一为内容 ,它所确认的 ,是存在的具体性 ;作为人道领域的价值原则 ,“和”既以扬弃存在的片面性、回归具体的存在为指向 ,又通过对差异、多样性等的尊重和宽容 。

Chinese philosophers have long made a distinction between 'conformity' and 'submission' with an emphasis on the ideas that 'conforming but not submitting identical'. 'Conformity' involves natural existence and thus inherits values of noumenon accordingly. In the light of theory of noumenon, 'conformity' means unity of varieties or unity of variances. What it claims is the material existence. As a principle of values in humanism, 'conformity' refutes one sidedness, works towards material existence, and guarantees unity of the society and the individuals through respect for and tolerance to differences and variances.