《论灵魂》中分离思想探析

Research on Separation Thought in De Anima

分离思想是对"灵魂有没有部分"这个问题的解读,既是亚里士多德对前人灵魂观点的总结、思考和批评,又构成了亚里士多德对灵魂定义最主要的内容。从分割(diaireth/j/divisible)和分离(cwrista./separable)这两个不同的古希腊词语入手,明晰分离思想的前提,即灵魂的各个部分无法分离,但是整体的灵魂可以分割。植物性灵魂(营养能力)既可以在定义上分离,又可以在空间上分割,这种情况同样适应于低等动物如蚯蚓。人的灵魂(思维能力)相对来说复杂一些,仅就它是向上推理的努斯概念而言,在定义上可分又在空间上可分。分离思想能够帮助我们更好地理解亚里士多德对于灵魂的定义,灵魂在一般的意义上是现实、整体,是我们赖以生存、感觉和思维的东西。同时,分离思想也奠定了亚里士多德从动物学到伦理学的思想转变。

The separation thought is an interpretation of the question'whether the soul has parts or not';it is Aristotle's summary,thinking,and criticism of his predecessors' views about soul and also constitutes the core content of Aristot-le's definition of soul. From the two different ancient Greek words diaireth/j(divided)and cwrista(separated),the pa-per clarifies the premise of separation thought:the parts of soul are not separable but the whole soul is divisible. Vegeta-tive soul(nutritional capacity)is separable in definition and dividable in space;this is also applicable to lower animalssuch as earthworms. Human soul(ability of thinking)is more complex. In terms of the upward reasoning nous concept,it is both separable in definition and divisible in space. The separation thought helps us better understand Aristotle's def-inition of soul:it is reality,entirety,and what we rely on to live,perceive,and think. Based on this,Aristotle com-pleted his transformation from zoology to ethics.