圣哲之境:反思奥古斯丁对希腊古典哲学怡情理论的障碍性理解

The Spirituality of Philosophers:A Critical Survey of Augustine s Interpretation of the Classical Greek Philosophy of εuπαθεια

怡情是希腊古典哲学特别是斯多亚学派所追崇的圣哲情感境界,不动情和超越尘世情绪波动为其重要特质。该情感理想曾对早年奥古斯丁产生了深刻影响。然而,奥古斯丁晚年却将斯多亚圣哲式的怡情境界与凡夫的情绪波动相混同,宣称两者并无实质区别。对此,传统批判性观点认为,奥古斯丁误读了古典哲学流派的圣哲观并混淆了圣凡之间关于情感的界限;而争锋性观点则强调奥古斯丁准确把握了怡情理论的实质。聚焦奥古斯丁混同圣哲与凡夫情感特质这一核心问题,回归其不同时期的阐述,我们发现:奥古斯丁的诠释并非出于障碍性理解,乃是远离古典哲学范式而进行的价值重构,即把神圣慈爱扭转下的意志作为评估圣凡情感品质好坏的新标准和原则。

The conception of εuπαθεια refers to the ideal emotional state of the saints in Greek philosophy,in which impassibility and the freedom from perturbations are important features.This emotional ideal had a profound impact upon Augustine in his early years.However,in his later works,Augustine confused the Stoic vision of εuπαθεια with the common passions,arguing that no distinction exists in the wise and the fool.For this confusion,some critics claim that Augustine misrepresents the Greek view of those philosophical spirituality and confuses the boundary of emotions between the saints and the fools.Other scholars are of the opinion that Augustine understands the essence of the ideal of εuπαθεια and his equating the concept of impassibility with indifference is evidence of new interpretation.This study sheds light on Augustine s conception of εuπαθεια.Attending to various writings of Augustine,we will see that his interpretation was not a misinterpretation,but rather a pondered position away from the ancient philosophy,constructing the bondage between voluntas and agape as new means and principles of dealing with emotions between the wise and the fool.