“知”“道”“知道”与“不知道”——从语义到哲理的探析

“Zhi(知)”,“Dao(道)”,“Zhidao(知道)”and“Buzhidao(不知道)”——A Linguistic and Philosophical Analysis

“知”与“道”是中国哲学范畴中的重要术语。“知”字从“口”、从“矢”,蕴含了中国古人对语言与思维之关系的理解。“知”又通“智”,“智”为“道”,“道”兼有道路、行走(引申为实践)、言说、办事之门道与天地之大道等义项。“知”与“道”的诸多义项间具有一种张力,构成了中西哲学皆关注的“语言——思维——实践——世界”这一经典论题。通过对“知”“道”“知道”与“不知道”的分析,能够揭示出中国哲学在处理这一论题上的特色,即以“行”(实践与体验)贯通“言”“器”“道”三者,进而揭示中国哲学的特质,即“由词通道”“道不离器”。

“Zhi(知)”and“dao(道)”are the key words of Chinese philosophy.“Zhi(知)”,composed of“kou(口)”and“shi(矢)”,embodies Chinese ancient people’s understanding of the relationship between language and thought.“Zhi(知)”,at its highest level,is equal to“zhi(智)”or the metaphysical being“dao(道)”.“Dao(道)”means road,walking,speaking,skills and the ultimate truth.These meanings engender a tension between“zhi(知)”and“dao(道)”,which poses a problem concerned by both Chinese and Western philosophies,that is,the relationship among language,thought,practice and the world.Through a linguistic and philosophical analysis of“zhi(知)”,“dao(道)”,“zhidao(知道)”and“buzhidao(不知道)”,we can see how Chinese philosophy addresses the problem with its unique ways,which will also reveal the features of Chinese philosophy itself.