一种中国哲学的形而上学是否可能——关于“形而上学”译名的分析

Is a Metaphysics of Chinese Philosophy Possible? An Analysis of the Chinese Translation of the Term“Metaphysics”

"形而上学"是metaphysics的译名。在中国哲学研究的语境中,围绕"形而上学"形成了由"格义"和"反向格义"交织而成的复杂而混乱的局面,人们往往不是在metaphysics的含义上使用"形而上学",而是在"形而上者谓之道"的含义上理解metaphysics,并且试图构建一种"中国哲学的形而上学"。西方哲学中的metaphysics以"存在"为对象,其本性为理性主义,并且具有超越性。任何一个学科都是根据其研究对象而成立的,"存在"并不是中国哲学的研究对象,仅就"形而上学"是metaphysics的译名而论,中国哲学没有"形而上学"这个学科。我们不能因为借用了"形而上者谓之道"翻译metaphysics,就把metaphysics"创新"为"中国哲学的形而上学"。

The Chinese termxing’ershang xue is the translation of'metaphysics.'In the context of the study of Chinese philosophy,there is a complexity and confusion around these two terms,arising from geyi(interpreting the Western concepts in light of Chinese philosophy)and fanxiang geyi,or reverse geyi(Interpreting Chinese ideas in light of Western concepts).More often than not,people do not use xing’ershang xue as'metaphysics'is understood in Western philosophy;on the other hand,people understand'metaphysics'based on the Chinese philosophical phrase'Xing’ershang zhe wei zhi dao,'meaning'what abstracts that exceeds the figure is called the Dao or Way.'And they attempt to construct'a metaphysics of Chinese philosophy.'Any discipline is established on the premise of its research object.Metaphysics in Western philosophy,with'existence'as its object and rationalism as its basis,is transcendental;while in terms of Chinese philosophy,since'existence'is not its object,and xing’ershang xue is merely a translation of'metaphysics,'there is no such a branch as xing’ershang xue.We cannot'innovate''a metaphysics of Chinese philosophy'just because we borrowed xing’er shangto translate'metaphysics.'