从漠然到释然——论爱默生思想中个体/社会关系模型的演变

Epistemological Changes Reflected in Emerson's “Indifferency”

本文试图以爱默生作品中indifferency这一关键词的不同意涵为线索,考察其认识论的演化脉络,以此为基础来解读其思想中个体与社会的关系变化。爱默生早期对外物的"漠然"乃基于"外物不足虑"的确信,这种确信源于两种思路:"外物无差别"和"外物无关紧要",分别对应"补偿"模式中的"平衡抵消"法则和"因果论"法则。但这两条法则彼此矛盾,并暗示出爱默生的虚无主义倾向。为了解决虚无主义的问题,爱默生尝试将"补偿"模式道德化,由此得出了一个新的"圆环"模型。在新模型中,"平衡抵消"法则和"因果论"法则被修正和融合,自我与社会的关系也从"漠然"变成了一种带有肯定意味的"释然"。

In writing on the relationship between the individual and society, Emerson uses the word ＂indifferency＂ with complex and changing connotations throughout his career. The indifferency towards the society in his early writings comes from an epistemological model that argues for both equivalence and insignificance of diverse circumstances. But Emerson is compelled to revise this model due to intrinsic contradictions. The new model, while reconciling visionary idealism and pragmatic concerns, also endows Emerson＇s ＂indifferency＂ towards the society with affirmative implications.