老子「損」之義理研究——通識課程「老子導讀」對學子思考的激盪

A Study on Laozi's 'Decrease' --through 'Guided Reading in Laozi's Philosophy' as a General Education Course

通常大眾都看重「增益」排斥「減損」，但是老子卻特別明示對於「損」之看重。這是為了什麼？這項與眾不同的論點，是否意謂著：老子的觀察與思考，與大眾並不相同？本文針對此項疑問展開考察，首先探求老子對事理的基本認識，以了解老子觀察、思考的特點，然後討論「損」、諸多蘊藏減損意涵的敘述，以及「損」與「道」的關連性。

Most of people prefer increase to decrease. Laozi, on the contrary, values decrease. This study explores whether such standpoint is an indication that Laozi views this world very differently compared to others. To gain a better insight into this question and to understand Laozi's way of thinking, this study first expounds Laozi's point of view regarding how things operate. The study then attempts to discuss decrease and other statements bearing on the meaning of decrease, and goes on to discuss the relation between 'decrease' and 'Dao'.