常變、古今看荀子與韓非之歷史觀的差異

On the Differences of Historical Views between Xunzi and Han Fei from the Perspective of Constant Change

本文旨在由常與變、古與今兩組相對概念檢視荀子與韓非歷史觀的差異，並釐清二人思想學說的若干糾葛。在荀子「體常盡變」的歷史觀中，「常」與「變」構成的是體用關係；而在韓非「變古易常」的歷史觀中，「常」與「變」構成的是對立關係。溯其源流，荀子的「體常盡變」繼承了儒家「守經通權」的思維模式，而韓非的「變古易常」則援引轉化老子並以「道，無常操」作為其理論根據。對歷史發展過程中所形成的「古」與「今」，荀子透過「古今一也」的論述，彰顯了「古」與「今」在主體精神方面的互為主體性；而韓非古今互異的論述，揭櫫的是「古」與「今」在客觀事實方面的認知意義。 The purpose of this paper is to examine the fundamental differences between Xunzi's and Han Fei 's two historical concepts by comparing two pairs of relative ideas: “Constant” vs. “Change” and “Ancient” vs. “Modern” as an attempt to clarify some of the disputes. In Xunzi's historical concept of “constant changing” view, “constant” and “change” constitute a relationship between thinking and practice; and in the historical concept of Han Fei's ethnical concept, “constancy” and “change” constitutes an antagonistic relationship. Tracing back to its source, Xunzi's ethical system is inherited from Confucian concept of “keeping the constant and make adjustments” whereas Han Fei's “constantly changing” is originated from Lao Tzu's “Road, impermanence” as its theoretical basis. The “ancient” and “present” formed in the process of historical development, Xunzi's discourse highlighted the “ancient” and “modern” are mutually autonomous in the subjective spirit of the subjectivity through the discourse of “ancient and present are the same”; through Han Fei's discussion on “the ancient and the modern are different”, it is emphasized that the cognitive significance of “ancient” and “modern” are in its objective facts.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the fundamental differences between Xunzi's and Han Fei 's two historical concepts by comparing two pairs of relative ideas: “Constant” vs. “Change” and “Ancient” vs. “Modern” as an attempt to clarify some of the disputes. In Xunzi's historical concept of “constant changing” view, “constant” and “change” constitute a relationship between thinking and practice; and in the historical concept of Han Fei's ethnical concept, “constancy” and “change” constitutes an antagonistic relationship. Tracing back to its source, Xunzi's ethical system is inherited from Confucian concept of “keeping the constant and make adjustments” whereas Han Fei's “constantly changing” is originated from Lao Tzu's “Road, impermanence” as its theoretical basis. The “ancient” and “present” formed in the process of historical development, Xunzi's discourse highlighted the “ancient” and “modern” are mutually autonomous in the subjective spirit of the subjectivity through the discourse of “ancient and present are the same”; through Han Fei's discussion on “the ancient and the modern are different”, it is emphasized that the cognitive significance of “ancient” and “modern” are in its objective facts.