杜威论身心关系

Dewey’s View of Body-Mind Relationship

以杜威为代表的实用主义哲学,虽然影响巨大,却一直遭受着严厉的质疑和批判。其心理学思想的遭遇就是一个例证。杜威在开始哲学研究之初,已经形成了比较成熟的心理学思想;在与亚历山大原则和技巧的提出者——亚历山大近四十年的交往过程中,杜威的心理学思想得到了验证、丰富和发展。由于对亚历山大技巧在平衡身心关系方面的作用有着长期的亲身体验和思索,杜威对亚历山大技巧给予了极高的评价,尤其欣赏其对教育的重要价值。有趣的是,若干号称是杜威“信徒”的学者,对杜威与亚历山大交往的事实不屑一顾,甚至表示公开的蔑视。因此,梳理杜威就身心关系问题所发表的有关论述,追踪杜威与亚历山大的交往过程,不仅有助于理解实用主义哲学的特质,还有助于消除围绕着杜威哲学的若干误解,并进一步揭示杜威哲学的当代价值与意义。

Pragmatism,an influential and characteristically American philosophy represented by John Dewey,has always been confronted with harsh questions and criticisms. His psychological thinking is a case in point. In his early philosophical research,Dewey developed a sophisticated psychological theory,and then his acquaintance with F. M. Alexander greatly helped him validate and deepen his psychological ideas. Recognizing and appreciating he value of maintaining better body-mind balance,Dewey held the Alexander Principle and Technique in high regard and championed especially its value in education. Still,a number of renowned “Deweyans” seemed to attach little or no importance to Dewey’s long communication with Alexander,and even explicitly expressed disparaging remarks towards this “affair”. It is,therefore,necessary to explore Dewey’s thoughts on body-mind relationship in over half a century,and examine his interaction with F.M. Alexander,so as to reveal the true nature of Dewey’s version of pragmatism and its contemporary relevance.