“霍布斯式”追问:黑暗如何可能?——光之隐喻观照下的启蒙理性反思

The Hobbesian question:How could darkness be possible-The reflection upon enlightening reason in light of the metaphor of“light”

“光”的隐喻贯穿启蒙运动始终,是驱散蒙昧、黑暗、专制的手段、过程与目的。“光”之隐喻观照下的启蒙运动反思,会提出“霍布斯式”追问:若“光”与黑暗对峙,且总高于后者,那么,黑暗如何可能?这实际是对启蒙理性的清醒质疑。理性有其限度,黑暗、幽暗、模糊乃人性之基底,亦不与“光”决然对立,而是“一体性”的互相依存。借光之隐喻观照启蒙理性,我们发现,启蒙运动的最大遗产,并非理性的绝对无二,而是不息的超越与反思。

The metaphor of“light”runs through the Enlightenment Movement,acting as the means,process and aim of dispelling the darkness,ignorance and autocracy.However,the examination upon Enlightening Reason from the perspective of the metaphor of“light”will raise the Hobbes⁃ian question:how could darkness be possible,if light opposes darkness and the former is invari⁃ably above the latter and always will be?This is,veritably,the sober reflection upon Enlighten⁃ing Reason.Reason per se has its limitation;darkness,dimness as well as ambiguity,which are the nature of human mind and soul,are not necessarily the opposite of“light”,but they incor⁃porate into a unified“wholeness”notwithstanding,depending on each other.Thus,by the exami⁃nation upon the Enlightenment in view of the metaphor of“light”,we are cognizant of the fact that what the Movement rewards and benefits us most turning out to be not the supreme of Reason,but the never⁃ending surpassing and examining.