经典阅读与思想停摆

Absence of Thinking in Reading Classics

有关经典的讨论常常将经典阅读和经典书目混为一谈。许多讨论以为经典阅读的关键是选对书目。我们认为,书目只是第一步。经典阅读时之所以会出现思想停摆是因为:(1)人们混淆了经典阅读与一般阅读的区别;(2)人们误把认知当作思想;(3)人们在阐释经典时追求确定性而忽视其复杂的意义潜势。唯有把经典阅读看作是独立、自由的思想活动,经典文本才能充分发挥其振聋发聩的作用。

People discussing about classics tend to confound reading classics with the canon.Many believe that the key to effective reading of classics is the canon.However,deciding on the canon is only the first step,which cannot prevent absence of thinking in the reading process.Unthinking reading of classics arises from(1)the confusion of classics reading with general reading;(2)mistaking cognition for thinking;and(3)ignoring the complex meaning potentials in classics that defy any attempt at reading for a certainty.We hold that only when reading classics is an independent and free thinking activity can classics play their thought-provoking role.