〈大學〉「絜矩之道」重探：以荀子、戴震的情理論述為中心

A Reanalysis of “The Great Learning”’s Way of Empathy in Moderation: A Discussion Centered around Xunzi and Dai Zhen’s Discourse on Reason

「矩」不僅作為日常可見的實用器物，也是一個意象鮮明的空間方位譬喻，成為〈大學〉闡述「絜矩之道」關於修身、恕道和感通概念的活水源頭。本文首先溯源「絜矩」詞義與譬喻原型，分析當中所含修身與倫理面向，指出《荀子》「以身為矩」和「操矩之術」的思維結構，涉及身體、他人和社群所共構成的空間關係，此是理解〈大學〉「絜矩之道」的同情共感概念基礎。接著，全面梳理「絜矩之道」的上下、先後、左右詞彙義涵，建構身體與社會之間的方位體系，特別是《荀子》「以情度情，以類度類」的觀點，賦予「絜矩之道」的感通基礎，更是戴震「以情絜情」的命題論據。最後，則闡明戴震如何轉化「絜矩之道」，特別在情欲和理義之間的辯證及「絜情」工夫，既承繼荀子又加以縱深，敞開一種公共感通模式，開拓出「絜矩之道」的豐富意義向度，豁顯儒學隱含身體─情感─倫理之間互滲聯繫的共同體理念。

"“Rules” is not only a concrete tool to follow in daily practice, but more importantly a distinct spatial metaphor that manifests a directional orientation. This understanding of “rules” is thus the fountainhead of practicing “The way of empathy in moderation,” the concepts of reciprocity and communication as found in “The Greater Learning.” This paper first delves into the meaning of the words “empathy in moderation,” expounding on the original usage and form of this metaphor as well as analyzing the practical and ethical connotations of this concept. Secondly, in analyzing these concepts, I use Xunzi’s “internalizing and embodying the rules of interaction” and “the practice of embodying the rules of interaction” as the basis for my thought system. These concepts touch upon the relations of space, body and the others in a society. They are also rudiments in understanding the empathetic nature of “The Greater Learning”’s “the way of empathy in moderation.” This paper then meticulously sifts through the meanings of all the words surrounding “the way of empathy in moderation,” and in doing so establishes a system of thought based upon the body’s orientation in relationship to society. This is done with an emphasis on Xunzi’s concept of “from feeling things through the perception of another, to feeling things through the collective perception of a group,” which offers not only the fundamentals of communication that pertain to “the way of empathy in moderation,” but all the more so serves as the theoretical basis for Dai Zhen’s concept of “sympathizing others’ sentiment by sentiment.” Lastly, in this paper I shed light upon the way in which Dai Zhen took the concept of “the way of empathy in moderation,” especially in terms of the struggle between desire and righteousness and the controlling of these desires. Dai Zhen not only continued in Xunzi’s train of thought but also added more depth to his thought, thus opening the path for a type of communal communication method. In doing so, Dai Zhen developed a rich theoretical substance for “the way of empathy in moderation,” thereby illuminating the underlying concepts behind the interrelationship between desire and ethics that were previously implied by Confucian thought."