“知行合一”:复归本体的明觉与能动

Unity of Knowing and Doing: Return to the Consciousness and Initiative of Noumenon

王阳明的“知行合一”说,乃是基于知行本体而展开。知与行之所以被分为两件工夫,并非道德认知与实践的脱节,而是知行本体为私欲所隔断。而知行本体即是心之良知良能,故“知行合一”的本旨在于“知良能,是良知;能良知,是良能”,即:一切知行活动皆应复归作为知行本体的良知良能。阳明所谓的复归知行本体,并非意味着摒弃意识的认知与身体的行动,而毋宁是说,意识的认知与身体的行动皆应基于心之本体,如此,“行”方具有先天的自明性,“知”方具有本原的能动性。阳明的“知行合一”说,回答了道德知识的先天来源与道德行为的根本动力问题,在当代社会仍然具有重要的现实意义。

Wang Yangming’s theory of “unity of knowing and doing” is based on noumenon.The reason why “knowing” and “doing” are divided into two parts is not because of the disconnection between moral cognition and practice, but because the noumenon of knowing and doing is cut off by selfish desire.Therefore, the purpose of “unity of knowing and doing” is that all activities of knowledge and action should return to conscience and ability as noumenon.Of course, Wang Yangming’s so-called reversion to the noumenon of knowing and doing does not mean abandoning the cognition of consciousness and the action of body.Rather, the cognition of consciousness and the action of body should be based on noumenon, and be focused on by the conscience of noumenon.In short, only based on conscience and ability, can the activities of knowing and doing have the power of reality.Wang Yangming’s theory of “unity of knowing and doing” answers the question of the innate source of moral knowledge and the fundamental driving force of moral behavior, which is still of great practical significance in contemporary society.