希腊哲学智慧论传统及其晚期转型:发生学与奥古斯丁的视野

The Tradition and Transformation of Sophia in Greek Philosophy:Genealogical and Augustine’s Perspectives

"智慧"在希腊文化中一贯有实践性智慧与理论性智慧之分。所谓实践性,即指世俗生活所需的技艺,更多属于感觉和经验的能力范畴。所谓理论性即指普遍性的、关于万物背后的本原与原因的、统一的知识,更多属于理性、理智直观的能力范畴。通过历代哲学家的不断建构,在晚期希腊哲学那里寻求两种智慧的汇通成为了智慧论的时代主题。在两希文化交汇之后,问题就具体转变成:人如何能够获得最高的智慧、以及智慧者是否存在等。智慧被认为是通往幸福的必经之路。奥古斯丁继承和发展了希腊智慧论的传统,将智慧等同于认识真理,提出了理性与信仰两种认识能力在追求真理与智慧过程的重要性。为此,他将智慧论的关切从外物转向了人的内在自身,从纯粹求知转向了寻求个人生命的幸福,从怀疑论转向了寻求权威引导,体现晚期希腊哲学智慧论转型的时代诉求,也折射了西方智慧论发展与演变的独特精神。这一哲学历程对于我们今天理解中西文化对"智慧"求索的差异也有借鉴意义。

Sophia( wisdom) in Greek culture has a tradition of a dichotomy,i. e.,practical wisdom and theoretical wisdom. The practical one is related to the handcrafts and arts in daily life,belonging to the sensory and perspective category;the theoretical one is related to the principles and reasons of all things,which is also the unique and universal knowledge,belonging to the functions of reason and intellect. Through the construction by generations of philosophers,how to integrate these two kinds of wisdom became a theme for the time to later Greek philosophers. After the encounter between Hellenistic and Hebrew cultures,this topic gave rise to more specific questions,including: How could human beings acquire the highest wisdom? Or has a wise man ever existed? For wisdom is considered as the necessary path to happiness. As for St. Augustine,he inherited and developed the traditional philosophy of Sofia. By identifying wisdom as knowing truth,he confirmed that the abilities to reason and believe are both important in pursuing truth and wisdom. Thus,he turned the concern of sofia from the outer world into one’s inner self;from seeking knowledge for its own sake into seeking the happiness of one’s life;and from skeptics into seeking the guidance of authority. The review of sofia’s philosophical journey can provides us with a mirror to understand the difference between Chinese and Western traditions of wisdom.