“不争”及其价值内涵--老子思想的一个维度

On“Action Without Struggle”and Its Value Connotation

“不争”是老子哲学中的观念。这一观念既体现了对理想人格的理解,也表现为人与人共在之时应该遵循的原则,从而,既涉及人的内在品格,又关乎普遍的社会规范。作为规范,“不争”构成了调节人与人之间的关系以及人与对象关系的原则。在老子看来,“争”的发生以差异和分别的存在为其根源,可以说,差异和分别构成了“争”的本体论前提。“道”的普遍涵盖性与江海的“善下”品格体现于社会领域中,便化为“不争”的“在”世原则。江海甘居山谷百川之下,最后却能够容纳万川,同样,人处于谦下的地位、以“不争”的宽容之心来对待他人,也可以使天下无人可与之相争。作为普遍的存在法则,天道首先表现为“不争而善胜”,后者构成了老子所主张的基本交往方式,而“不争”的意义,则是为社会秩序的建构提供担保。

“Action without struggle”,a concept in Laozi's philosophy,not only reflects the understanding of the ideal personality,but also shows the principle that people should follow when they get together.Therefore,it involves not only the internal character of the human being,but also the general social norms.As a norm,“action without struggle”constitutes the principle of regulating the relationship between people as well as the relationship between people and objects.In Laozi's view,the root of“action with struggle”is the existence of differences and distinctions.In other words,differences and distinctions constitute the ontological premise of“action with struggle”.The universal coverage of“Dao”and the character of“benevolence”of rivers and seas are embodied in the social field,which turns into the principle of“being in the world”of“action without struggle”.Rivers and seas live in the valley under hundreds of waters,but they can accommodate thousands of waters in the end.Similarly,people in a humble position and treat others with an“action without struggle”tolerance can also make them invincible over the world.As a universal law of existence,the way of heaven is first expressed as“action without struggle and thus to win”,which constitutes the basic way of communication advocated by Laozi,and the significance of“action without struggle”is to provide guarantee for the construction of social order.