《淮南子》对先秦道家“无为而治”的理论偏转

The Theoretical Deflection of Pre-Qin Taoism’s“Rule by Doing Nothing”in Book of Prince Huainan

《淮南子》以“心仪老氏又常自违老氏之旨而不知”的方式,对先秦道家“无为而治”的政治理想进行了有意无意的改写。在对“为‘无为’”的必要性论证的过程中,《淮南子》以汉儒比附性质的“天人同构”观念去强作解事,冲淡了其超越意味;其对“无为”精神实质的重新阐释,不自觉地运用了先秦法家思想资源,发生了向“有为”的潜在偏转。

Book of Prince Huainan rewrites the pre-Qin Taoist political ideal of“ruling by doing nothing”intentionally or unintentionally in a way that“the mind is fond of Lao and often violates Lao’s will without knowing it”.In the process of arguing for the necessity of“doing nothing”,Book of Prince Huainan uses the Han Confucian concept of“heaven and humanity in the same structure”to explain things,which dilutes its transcendental meaning.Its reinterpretation of the spiritual essence of“doing nothing”unconsciously applies the resources of pre-Qin Legalism,which leads to a potential deviation towards“doing nothing”