意志软弱与知行之辨——基于朱子的“真知”观念

Weakness of Will and Distinguishing between Knowing and Doing:Based on Zhu Xi’s Concept of“True Knowledge”

“意志软弱”在西方哲学中往往以“理欲之辨”的形式呈现,西方学者多就意志软弱的原因进行分析,很少明确提出相应的解决方法。在中国哲学中,“意志软弱”常意味着“知而不行”。朱熹就是以“知行之辨”探讨意志软弱问题,将“知而不行”的原因解释为道德认知的缺乏与意念对行为的干扰,并进一步概括为“未能真知”,认为“真知必能行”。“真知”是道德主体对于知识的深刻的内在性体认,蕴含着道德实践的动力。相应地,对道德知识达到“真知”程度的体认可以弥合知行之间的断裂,克服意志软弱。具体而言,需要通过践行《大学》中格物、致知、诚意、正心的功夫,真切体贴事物所以然之理,为道德实践提供充足动力。

“Weakness of will”is often presented in Western philosophy as the“distinction between reason and desire”,but Western scholars mainly analyze the causes of weakness of will and rarely propose explicit solutions.In Chinese philosophy,“weak will”often refers to“knowing but not doing”.Zhu Xi addressed the issue of weakness of will by“distinguishing between knowledge and action”,explaining“knowing but not doing”as a result of a lack of moral cognition and the interference of intentions with behavior.He further characterizes this as a“failure to know truly”,arguing that“true knowledge must be acted upon”.“True knowledge”represents a profound and intrinsic understanding of knowledge by moral agents,encompassing the motivation for moral practice.Accordingly,achieving the level of“true knowledge”in moral understanding can bridge the gap between knowledge and action and overcome the weakness of will.Specifically,it requires providing sufficient impetus for moral practice by engaging in the principles of studying things,gaining knowledge,being sincere,being upright as outlined in The Great Learning,and genuinely understanding the reasons behind things to foster moral practice.