“义”“意”辨

Distinguishing Between Denotation and Connotation

“义”与“意”是人类认知与阐释的核心概念。在汉语言文字体系中,义与意的来源、目的、认知取向均有深刻差异。义包含客观性、确定性,具有与关联对象本身的符合性,意则包含主观性、多元性,与关联对象本身疏离甚至对立。建构中国阐释学,需要辨识、处理好义与意的关系。由认识论的观点看,义在意先,要坚持先义后意的认识路线;意从义衍,阐衍组合,既要有开放交流取向,也要有合理限定,以实现最终合流;意要转化上升为义,由意而义、由价值而知识的认准不是简单的否定或肯定,而是接受公共理性检验的历史过程。人类实践是由义而意的无限上升,证明人类认知的确定性追求稳定而恒久。

Denotation(义)and connotation(意)are core concepts in human cognition and interpretation.In the Chinese language system,denotation and connotation have profound differences in their origins,purposes,and cognitive orientations.Denotation encompasses objectivity and certainty,possessing an alignment with the essence of the related object,while connotation contains subjectivity and multiplicity,which may be alienated from and even opposed to the essence of the related object.To construct Chinese hermeneutics,we must distinguish between denotation and connotation,and do a good job in managing their relationship.From the epistemological perspective,as denotation precedes connotation,it is necessary to adhere to the cognitive path that prioritizes denotation over connotation.As connotation derives from denotation,their interpretation and combination require open communicative orientation along with rational delineation,so as to achieve eventual convergence.Then,connotation will transform and ascend into a new denotation.This transition from connotation to denotation,which is a recognition from value to knowledge,is neither a simple affirmation nor negation,but a historical process subject to public rationality testing.In human practice,the endless ascent from denotation to connotation proves that the certainty in human cognition pursues stability and permanence.