梭罗作品中的道家思想因素

Taoist Elements in Thoreau's Writings

指出19世纪美国文学家梭罗的思想在许多方面同道家思想有着惊人的相似之处:梭罗热爱自然,主张"人是自然的一部分",这正与道家的"天人合一"的思想相吻合;梭罗厌恶奢侈的生活方式,提倡简朴的生活,这正好与老庄主张的减少贪欲、返朴归真的观念相一致;梭罗崇尚个人自由,反对政府剥夺个人的权利,这正与老子的无为而治的思想同出一辙。通过对梭罗与道家思想的比较研究,认为饱读东方哲学著作的梭罗深受道家思想的影响。

This thesis attempts to study the surprising affinities between Henry David Thoreau and Taoism. Thoreau loves nature, and he views 'man as a part or parcel of nature', which resembles Taoist idea 'the identification of the self with universe'; Thoreau emphasizes on necessity of simplicity, which is identified with Lao Tzus advocacy of returning to simplicity and naturalness; Thoreau believes in the idea'that government is best which governs not at all', which corresponds to Lao Tzus stress on 'nonaction' (Wu Wei),i.e. with no governmental interference. This writing intends to make a comparative study on the aspects of their attitude toward the relationship between man and nature,their life style and their political view,in order to provide evidence that Thoreau who is quite familiar with Oriental philosophy is deeply influenced by Taoism.