《大學》「止於至善」詮解

Reinterpreting the Concept of “Attaining Ultimate Goodness” in the Great Learning

本文以「澄清概念」為導向，一方面釐清「至善」概念在《大學》文本及儒學脈絡中的確切意涵，另一方面探討儒家學者在設立「止於至善」這一判準背後的問題意識及終極關切。本文將分成四個主要的部分：（一）緒論部分，表明本文在澄清「至善」概念時所持的基本態度和立場，即拒絕將「至善」單純視作一抽象懸浮的理念，而是充分肯定其作為一具有實質內涵並能夠對《大學》讀者提供積極範導作用的概念；（二）透過《大學》文本的分析及詳實的論證，以及與其他儒家經典之間的相互參照，試揭櫫「止於至善」於《大學》中之確切內涵；（三）檢視朱熹、王陽明等歷代學者對於《大學》中「至善」概念的理解，並指出各家在詮釋此概念上的利弊。（四）結語部分，重申「止於至善」在《大學》文本中的正確定位，並藉由本文對於「至善」概念的詮解反思構成儒家「善」概念的三種面向。

In line with the key objective of the 'clarification of concept',this paper seeks not only to clarify the concept of 'Ultimate Goodness' within the Great Learning and the wider Confuciancontext, but also explore the assumptions and concerns held byConfucian scholars in interpreting the notion of 'Attaining Ultimate Goodness'. This paper is made up of four main sections. (1) Theintroduction highlights the basic attitude and position taken by theauthor when clarifying the concept of ' ultimate goodness', which rejects the simplistic view that 'ultimate goodness' is just an abstractand superfluous ideal, but that it contains concrete meaning and thusserves as a positive guiding principle for readers of the Great Learning. (2) Based on comprehensive inter-textual analysis of the Great Learning, in conjunction with appropriate references to other important Confucian works, the author seeks to extract the definiteconnotations of the 'attaining ultimate goodness' concept as it regards to the aforementioned text. (3) Examine and evaluate the interpretations of the 'ultimate goodness' concept by past Confucian scholars such as Chu Tsi and Wang Yangming, whilst illuminating the strengths and flaws of their respective interpretations. (4) In thefinal section, the author reiterates the proper positioning of the 'attaining ultimate goodness concept' within the Great Learning text,before concluding with a philosophical reflection on the threeinter related aspects of the 'Goodness' concept in Confucian thought based on establishe.