论设计的物性、人性和神性——兼论中国设计思想的特性

On the Materiality, the Humanity, and the Divinity of Design——Also on the Properties of Chinese Philosophy of Design

设计活动具有多层结构、多重属性,包括物性、人性、神性(包含审美属性),其中物性是设计的基础层面,人性是设计的现实层面,神性是设计的超越层面。这三种属性构成了设计的总体性质。在这三个层面上,中国设计思想体现了自己的特性,分别具有自然主义、伦理主义和审美主义倾向。尤其重要的是,中国设计在缺失神性的情况下,形成了审美主义品格,也就是以审美为最高境界,而非以信仰为最高境界;它超越了设计的物性和人性,成为设计的最高层次。审美使人摆脱现实的羁绊,向自由的境界飞升,因此,审美主义突破了儒家以善为最高境界的伦理主义,挣脱了实用理性的桎梏,成为精神解放的途径。

The conduct of design is characterized by a multi-dimensional structure with each dimension qualified by a specific property:the properties of materiality,of humanity,and of divinity qualify the conduct of design as a whole as well as its three dimensions respectively,i.e.,the dimensions of foundation,of reality,and of transcendence,each of which also yields a tendency of Chinese philosophy of design—the tendencies of naturalism,of moralism,and of aestheticism.What is noteworthy is that the tendency of aestheticism which worships the aesthetic rather than the divine has taken shape in a cultural context wherein the discourse of the divine is too weak.Nevertheless,this tendency of aestheticism goes beyond the materiality and the reality of design so to feature its supreme dimension.The aesthetic liberates people from the real and lifts them to the state of freedom.By the same token,aestheticism embodies a means of intellectual emancipation that does not end up with the principal ethical aim of Confucianism as Goodness and its practical ration.