从内在价值到地方——西方现代环境伦理的东方转向

From Intrinsic Value to Place: On Oriental Turn of Western Modern Environmental Ethics

自从西方现代环境伦理理论创立开始,内在价值就一直是西方环境伦理学界所广泛探讨同时也被广泛批判的概念。尽管以内在价值这一基本概念来建立理论体系的环境哲学家在具体理论阐述上有所不同,但却遵循着相似的思维范式。这一范式主要体现在自然价值的形而上学基础和自然价值这一概念所蕴含的伦理基础。自然内在价值理论所主要用来保护的自然是未经人类文明践踏过的荒野。最近几年,在对内在价值这一概念的批判中,西方环境伦理理论中出现了另外一个理论路径,即用地方这一概念来代替内在价值,从而开辟了环境伦理研究的新路径。笔者主要从三个方面来论证了以地方这一概念为基础来建立环境伦理体系的思维范式,这三个方面包括关系的形而上学、基于情感的道德义务论和这一伦理体系所捍卫的地方这一概念。而由内在价值向地方这一概念的转换在某种程度上体现了西方环境伦理思维向中国传统哲学思维模式的转换,从而为建立中国本土化的环境伦理理论提供了新路径。地方这一概念所体现的东方思维转向主要体现在儒家的气论、情感论和实践价值观。

Since the formation of environmental ethics in the West, intrinsic value has been a widely discussed and criticized concept in the field of western environmental ethics. Although environmental philosophers who have established the theoretical system based on the concept of intrinsic value disagree in the theoretical explanation, they follow the same mentality paradigm, which is characterized by metaphysical and ethical foundation. Intrinsic value theories try to protect the wilderness untouched by human civilization. In recent years, while criticizing the concept of intrinsic value, some scholars start a new approach to environmental ethics： employing the concept of place as a substitute for the concept of intrinsic value. The paper demonstrates the mentality paradigm of environmental ethics based on the concept of place： relationship-oriented metaphysics, emotion-based moral deontology and the concept of place. The shift from intrinsic value to the concept of place reflects the transition from western environmental ethics mentality to the mentality of Chinese traditional philosophy, which provides new approach for the establishment of Chinese environmental ethics. The mentality transition is mainly manifested in Confucian views of qi and affection and practice values.