基于中印认识论的譬喻研究

A Metaphorical Study Based on Sino-Indian Epistemology

譬喻是一种比较常见的文化现象,在文化典籍中随处可见。目前学术界已从多个角度对譬喻进行了探讨研究。在汲取前人研究成果的基础上,从中印认识论的角度,利用儒家、墨家及佛教典籍中的丰富材料,对譬喻进行再研究。通过研究,文章认为:(一)譬喻是建立在“直告之不明”“义理难晓”的基础上,是不得已而为之的明意手段;(二)为了实现明意目的,人们往往是引类以譬喻,即在“类同”事物中,由先前已认识的事物类推到尚未认识的事物;(三)譬喻表达的过程是将理性认识转化为感性认识的过程,而譬喻认识的过程则正好与之相反。

Metaphor is a common cultural phenomenon,which can be seen everywhere in cultural books.At present,metaphor has been studied from many angles.With drawing on the achievements of previous researches,this paper restudies metaphor from the perspective of Chinese and Indian epistemology,and makes use of the rich materials in Confucian,Mohist and Buddhist classics.Through the research,the paper holds that:(1)the use of metaphor is always due to"direct confession not clearly understood"and"moral principle difficult to understand",and it is a means to make words explicit;(2)In order to achieve an explicit purpose,people often refer to analogies,that is,the unknown things are made explicit by the previously known things;(3)The process of metaphorical expression is the process of transforming rational understanding into perceptual understanding,while the process of metaphorical cognition is just the opposite.