試論儒家面對現代性生活世界之挑戰

The Challenge of Modernith to Confucian Thought

自辛亥革命(1911)後，儒家思想在「生活世界」(Life World)層面的指引與影響逐漸式微，當代新儒家反本(道德心)開新(民主、科學)的論點明顯也抵擋不了西方獨霸解釋的民主、自由、平等、法治、人權、分配等「現代性」概念之衝激，是以儒家陣營僅能退守於學院一角孤芳自賞而邊緣化，更有論者宣稱儒家已是「博物館化」(museumization)。海內外總有學人與漢學家宣揚儒學的「合理性」(rationality)與「現代性」(modernity)，欲展現傳統儒學仍然具有的一定的意義與價值。如今的生活世界是在「現代性」意義下所開展出來的，儒家必須面對此挑戰。就哲學意義言，「現代性」具有三個特點：一是「人」作為主體的「主體哲學」(Philosophy of Subjectivity)、二是「表象」(representation)思維，三是「理性化歷程」展現的「工具理性」(instrumental reason)。可是，理性異化了，主體過度膨脹，使人淪於理性的牢籠，造成意義與自由的雙重喪失。本文探討了「現代性」對儒家帶來的三大挑戰：一、「現代性」基本上否定了形上學，儒家對此除批判之外還能做出甚麼貢獻？二、「現代性」呈顯的現代文化，尤其是民主與科學的生活世界，儒家應如何面對？三、「現代性」的理性化歷程所產生的「理性的弔詭」，是儒家除堅持道德理性外是否應當發展工具理性？吾人認為，一、儒家仍應持續探究形上學，但不限於當代新儒家堅持的心性之學，持續提供人文理想於當代；二、儒家不應只是專業化中之一環，應恢復儒家是一種生活方式的哲學；三、儒家亦當發展如「現代性」的工具理性，吸收其優良面，創立新經典，以創造出前所未有的「儒家民主」之新道統。

Since the Xinhai revolution the influence of Confucian thought in China has been diminishing. Neo Confucian attempts to base democracy and science on Confucian morality has not been able to stem in the influence of Western ideas such as democracy, freedom, equality, rule of law or human rights. Thus the Confucian ideas are restricted to the academic discourse or are even facing the fate of being marginalized to historic interest only. Within China and abroad the ideas of Confucian rationality and modernity are often advanced to stress the role of traditional Confucian thought. Confucians have to address this challenge in order to remain relevant. From a philosophical point of view modernity has three prominent characteristics: subjectivity, representation and instrumental reason. But reason led to alienation, the subject overstretched, thus leading to the loss of meaning and freedom. This paper discusses three challenges that Confucianism faces in the context of the modern world: Firstly, after the demise of metaphysics, what can Confucianism still contribute? Secondly, how does Confucianism react to modern culture based on democracy and science? Thirdly, given the difficulties involving modern reason, should Confucianism develop instrumental reason based on its moral reason? The author believes that Confucianism should continue to pursue metaphysics, but not be confined by the current neo-Confucian frame in order to offer humanistic ideals for the contemporary world. Secondly Confucianism should not be part of the process of specialization, but develop as an inclusive way of life. Thirdly, Confucianism should adopt instrumental reason in order to develop its own version of Confucian democracy.