徐光启与晚明儒学核心概念的突破——以“格物穷理”为中心的考察

Xu Guangqi and the Breakthrough of the Core Concept of Confucianism in Late Ming Dynasty:An Investigation Centered on “The Investigation of Things and Fathoming of Principles”

自宋以后,"格物穷理"成为儒学核心概念之一。此后虽有诸多儒者从各个角度予以阐发,但始终未出"格物(人事+自然)-穷理(物理+事理)-知天理"的框架。至晚明徐光启时,他通过对传统格物穷理观和西学格物穷理观的两相比较、各有所取的基础上,对格物范围及优先程度进行了重新确定、对格物方法予以扩充与精致化、对穷理目的进行了转变,最终建立起一个"格物(客观自然)-穷理(物理)-求其故"的新型格物观,实现了对传统儒学"格物穷理"概念的突破,推动了传统儒学的近代化转型。从这一点来看徐光启在中国儒学史上应占有重要的一席之地。

＂The Investigation of Things and Fathoming of Principles＂becomes one of the core concept of Confucianism since the Song Dynasty. After that,a lot of Confucians elaborated this concept from various angles,however,none of them break the frame of＂investigation of things（ human affairs ＋ nature）-fathoming of principles（ principle of matter ＋ principle of human affairs）-recognition of heavenly principles＂. Until late Ming Dynasty,Xu Guangqi compared the traditional Chinese concept and western concept of＂The investigation of Things and Fathoming of Principles＂,and took both of their advantages. He redefined the scope and priority of things for investigation,expanded and specified the method of investigation of things,alternated the purpose of fathoming of principles. He finally built a new frame of＂investigation of things（ objective nature）-fathoming of principles（ principle of matter）-to know how nature works＂. On this basis,he broke the traditional Confucian concept on＂The investigation of Things and Fathoming of Principles＂,and promotes the modern transformation of Confucianism. Hence Xu Guangqi worths an important place in the history of Confucianism.