从体用之辨看老、庄政治思想的差异性

On the Different Political Thoughts of Zhuang Zi and Lao Zi Based on the Distinction of Essence versus Function

就立学根本而言,老、庄皆宗道法自然,并进而皆主无为而治和反复之道,皆批判道德的"坠落"与观念、制度的异化。然而,由于在体用、本末关系上有着不同的侧重或取向,遂引发了二者在政治思想上的重大分歧:老子因重抱本、守虚,致使其无为有"不为"之嫌,其所谓天下之治也流于"小国寡民"式的虚无;庄子则尚致命、尽情,其政治思想既展现了体用一如、本末一贯的精神,也彰显了万物各尽其性、王者拢聚天下的"充实性"。

Both Zhuang Zi and Lao Zi considered “conformity with nature” as the quintessen- tial doctrine. They further contend that the rulers should govern by doing nothing that is against nature and cycle through reversal. They criticized the degradation of morality and the alienation of concept and system. However, they differ in the relationship between essence and function, the fundamental and the periphery. Thereby, great differences exist in their political thoughts. Lao Zi emphasizes sticking to the fundamental and persisting in nothing. Lao Zi＇s “doing nothing that is against nature” more or less contains the meaning of taking no action, and the way of gov- ernment falls into nothingness fit for a small nation of little population. On the contrary, Zhuang Zi claims that devoting himself to the destiny and complete self--realization should be applied to political practice. His political thoughts embodies the correspondence of essence with function and the conformity of the fundamental with the periphery. With everything devoting itself to the destiny, the substantiality was exhibited in the governors gathering up all people under his rule.