老庄之道与言意之辨

The doctrines of the philosophers Laozi and Zhuangzi:arguments on word and cognition

老庄之道主要指宇宙本体及其永恒存在的规律 ,而意是人们对宇宙本体及其运行规律的认识 ,言又是意的表现形式。由于道本身的复杂性、精微性和玄妙性、无限性 ,人们不可能完全认识它 ,更不可能用语言完美地表现它。因此 ,言不尽意是绝对的 ,言能尽意是相对的。老庄明知道不可言却又连篇累牍言道的行为并不矛盾 ,他们在宇宙的伟力前感到了自身的渺小 ,因而在无法完美描绘彼岸世界之道的大前提下 ,勉为其难地对此岸世界之道进行了详尽描述 。

Tao ,as expressed in the doctrines of the two ancient Chinese philosophers Laozi and Zhuangzi(300 B.C.),is referred to as ontology of the Universe and its law of eternal existence,while Yi (cognition) is epistemology of the Universe and its law of movement. Yan (word)is the form of expression for Yi .Because of the Tao's complexity,subtlety,mysteriousness and infinitenss,it is impossible for man to achieve a complete understanding of it,not to mention its perfect expression by language.Therefore,imperfect expression of the meaning is absolute and perfect expression is relative Although they were aware of the imperfectness of the expression,it is not contradictory for the two men to write abont the doctrines pages after pages.On the basis of the major premise that perfect description of Faramita is impossible,their awareness of their own insignificance,as compared with the great power of the Universe,caused then to make a reluctant effort to give a detailed account of the temporality. The anthor believes that it is in this perspective that man can understand the intention of the two philosophers.