“普遍复合物”在亚里士多德生成论中的功能与地位

The Role and Function of “The Universal Concretum” in the Aristotle's Theory of Genesis

陈康教授在其博士论文:《亚里士多德的分离问题》中讨论了普遍复合物的角色与功能。这在亚里士多德的生成论之中是一个重要、但却常常被忽略的问题。其原因在于,学者们习惯用“系统”的、而非“生成”的眼光于研究中。他之所以接受“生成”的眼光,当然是受其师尼古拉·哈特曼的影响。而此一问题之所以重要,正在于它是为了解决分离问题。分离问题将造成“真实的重复”,这正是柏拉图在《巴门尼德篇》中借由“第三人论述”所呈现者。普遍复合物在生成过程中是作为一个服务于实体与质料之中性的载体,以便过程能开始。既然亚里士多德认为物的实体是内在于而非外在于(分离)他们,生成过程就是实体与质料的组合。载体于此例中是必需的,以便生成能开始。亚里士多德的生成论因此有一种堆栈结构。从最低的不可分割的种开始,作为种,它与质料被堆栈于一个载体(复合物)之上,向上到另一个更高层级,即是属。这个属又是作为另一个更高层级之物的种。如此继续重复,直至万有,皆可生成。此一过程的演进,皆在同一模式下。普遍复合物作为堆栈结构,对于实体与质料、种与属是一种不可或缺的载体,使得生成过程能开始。

Professor Chen Chun-Hwan has discussed the role and function of“The Universal Concretum”in his dissertation:The Separation-Problem by Aristotle.This is an important,hut usually neglected problem in the Aristotle's Theory of Genesis.The cause for such a neglect stands on the fact that the scholars take the point view of “system”rather than that of“genesis”in their research.His reception of the“genesis”point of view is certainly under the effect of his teacher,Nicolai Hartmann.Its importance lies in that,it is a solution for the problem of chorismos.Chorismos leads to the aporia of the repeat of reality,which Plato already showed by“The Third Man Argument”in the Parmenides.The Universal Concretum functions in the process of genesis as a neutral bearer for substance and matter,in order that the process can happen.Since Aristotle takes the substance of things as inner but not outer(chorismos)of them,the process of genesis is made of combination of substance and matter.In this case,a bearer(substratum)is needed for them,so that the genesis can take place.Aristotle's Theory of Genesis therefore has a structure of aggregation.It starts from the lowest,atomon Eidon,as species,by aggregation of matter upon a bearer(concretum),upward to the next higher level,which is genus.Then such genus functions as the species for the higher class of things,then the process goes further,until that all beings can be created by the same mode.“The Universal Concretum”serves as an inevitable bearer for substance and matter,species and genus in structure of aggregation,so that the process of genesis can begin.