“过程”之“道”的英译与阐释——兼论“全球老学”的意义与启示

The English Translation and Interpretation of “Dao (道)”as “Process”: On the Significance and Enlightenment of “Laozegetics”

学界通常认为,安乐哲对“道”一词的译法迥异于常见译法,它体现了怀特海过程哲学的视角。但如系统研读早期译本,则会注意到“过程”之意可上溯至这些早期译本及社会思潮与自然科学的发展。其后,“道”的“过程”之意逐渐显豁,相应的“道”之英译也越来越“变形”,但它的认同度也越来越高,究其原因,是它能引导人们在现世社会中实现“横向超越”。这一“变形”的翻译个例启发我们如何处理典籍翻译中“历史的”与“经典的”翻译的统一,如何从全球老学角度理解《道德经》译本独立的文化意义。

It is generally recognized by the academic community that Roger T.Ames’s method of translating“Dao”differs greatly from traditional translation methods,as it reflects the perspective of Whitehead’s process philosophy.Yet we will notice that the meaning of“process”can be traced back to such earlier translations and the social trends,and the developments in natural sciences at that time if taking a look at the earlier translations.Afterwards,the meaning of“process”gradually became apparent,and the corresponding English translation of“Dao”also underwent more and more“deformation”.The reason for the translations’being accepted by people is that they can guide people to achieve“horizontal transcendence”in the current society.This case of translation inspires us on how to unite the“historical”and“biblical”translations in classical translation,and how to understand the independent cultural significance of the translation of the Dao De Jing from Global Laozegetics.