老子治化思想辨微

An Analysis of Laozi's Political Thought

本文拟关联老子的"法自然"之道与不言之教,寻绎其"为身"而"为天下"的措思脉络,抉发老子治化思想的微旨,勾勒出老子论治化的原始要终的致思线索,即朴—朴散—复归于朴,对"无为"而"治"之意趣有所推阐,并从人生无待与有待的视野检讨了老子治化观的局限。

The paper associates Laozi's political thought with both his Dao of being natural and simple and his teaching concerning the abandonment of words.Based on this,it examines his political program's process,beginning with the cultivation of the self and ending with the cultivation of the people.The paper then explains one-by-one why Laozi's four outcomes of administration may occur.Finally,it interprets his political ideal and reviews the limits of his political thought.The paper points out that although Laozi proposed that one should conceal himself in obscurity,he still wished to save the world,viz.to keep the people simple and honest.His logic is that if one begins by cultivating oneself into a state of simplicity,one can then by degrees lead one's family,hometown,country,and even the whole world into a state of simplicity through non-action(wuwei 无为).Without this,there is no way to manage the world with the Dao.