真诚性、创发性与当代儒家创新之道

Sincerity, Creativity and Innovation of Contemporary Confucianism

儒学的起点是真诚性,而真诚性必须通过创发性得以实现,因为真诚性不仅具有知识论的逻辑意义,更重要的是指向本体论的存在层面,即要做真正的人。真诚性指向人的内在,而创发性则指向人的外在。前者的鹄的在"内圣",但"内圣"的实现必然展现为人的创发性,应对生活中出现的各种问题,创制出和谐优美的生活形式,就是传统儒家所说的"外王"。"外王"提供了真诚性实现的途径和方式,而完满的"真诚性"反过来对创发性发展的方向提供动力和范导。真诚性与创新性、"内圣"与"外王"是辩证的关系,相互依靠、相互促进,缺一不可。在当代儒家的语境和实践中,说"内圣"开出"外王"在语义上和现实中近似于说只有在建设"外王"的过程中才能真正实现"内圣"。

Sincerity is the starting point in Confucianism and cannot be fully realized unless through creativity,because Confucian sincerity is not merely of the epistemological meaning but more importantly it points to the existential dimension of ontological meaning,namely the becoming of a true person. On the analytical relations between these two concepts,this article is intended to examine their difference and relatedness. Sincerity points to the internal dimension of the human being,while creativity points to the external dimension. The former is to realize 'sageliness within'. However,the realization of the 'sageliness within' must be extended as self-creativity,dealing with various issues in real life,instituting harmonious and beautiful ways of life. This is what is regarded as 'kingliness without' in traditional Confucianism. 'Kingliness without' provides the realization and actualization of 'sincerity',while the realization and actualization of sincerity in turn provides a normative guidance for the direction of creativity's further expansion. Sincerity would be merely an empty shell without creativity,while creativity would be blinded without sincerity. The same dialectics also applies to the relation between 'sageliness within' and 'kingliness without'. Within the contemporary Confucian context,only on the conditions of true 'sageliness within' can 'kingliness without' be fully actualized,and only in the process of building up 'kingliness without' can 'sageliness within' be truly realized.