關係理性與交易理性：探討東西方交換的基礎

The Relational and Transactional Rationality: Exploring Eastern and Western Bases of Exchanges

本文基於「交換」的概念，闡釋文化認同的理論。所謂「交換」包含兩種成分，及經濟交易和社會關係。因為兩者均包含了在多種選擇中做決定的過程，因此皆具有理性基礎。經濟交易著重在貿易往來中，使利潤大於成本；社會關係則著重在人際互動中，使利潤大於成本。經濟交易通往財富，即經濟地位；社會關係則通往名聲，即社會地位。在最佳的情況下，上述兩種「交換」可同時提升經濟的和社會的利益。然而，在歷史經驗中，這兩種理性常有先後之分，特定的社會或團體又往往將排序的過程予以制度化。在諸如北美或西歐等社會，「交易理性」居於首出地位，然而在東亞，則是「關係理性」佔了上風。生活在不同的制度裡，人們會對於該制度所提供的價值觀與資源產生認同，他們的思想與行為模式也因此反映了各自對於財富或名聲的重視程度。

In this essay, I explicate a theory of cultural identity based on exchanges. Exchanges have two components: economic transaction and social relations. Both are rational in that each involves deliberate decisions among choices. Economic transactions favor benefit over cost in gains in transactional trades; social relations favor benefit over cost in gains in social relations. Economic transactions accumulate to wealth—economic standing; social relations accumulate to reputation—social standing. In optimal situations, exchanges may promote both transactional and relational gains. However, through historical and experiential processes, the priority ranking between the two rationalities becomes institutionalized in a given society or community. In some societies (e.g., North America and Western Europe) transactional rationality has become dominant , while in others (e.g., East Asia) relational rationality has prevailed. Immersed in each institution, individuals in each institutional field acquire its value and resources as the focal identity. Thus their ideology and behaviors reflect the affinity and affirmation for wealth or reputation.