形而上学的两种思想传统

The Two Traditions of Thought of Metaphysics

形而上学是对存在的追问,但形而上学思维却有中西两大思想传统之别。其中,西方主流形而上学对存在的追问据于"二分法"思维传统,走的是"纵向超越"的路线。与之不同,中国形而上学属于"非二分法"思维,走的是"横向超越"之路。为了与西方传统的形而上学思维相区别,可以将中国的这种形而上学思维称之为现象性思维。中西方形而上学各自的问题意识不同,其借助语言来进行形而上学思维也有很大不同,即西方的形而上学思维工具是概念,而中国的形而上学思维工具是意象。

Metaphysics is search for being, but there are two forms of thoughts of traditional metaphysics thinking -- the Chinese and the western style. Among them, the mainstream western metaphysics searches for being based on the tradition of dichotomy thinking, followed the route of vertical transcendence. In contrast, Chinese metaphysics belongs to the non-dichotomy thinking, followed the route of horizontal transcendence. To distinguish from Western traditional metaphysics thinking, Chinese metaphysics thinking can be called ＂phenomenal thinking＂. The sense of questioning in metaphysics is different between Chinese and western, which also use different language as tool -- Western corresponds to concepts while Chinese corresponds to images.