從「承給意義」論遊魚之喻──一個探究《莊子》實踐意義的跨領域進路

The Affordance of the Graceful Fish Metaphor: An Interdisciplinary Approach Exploring the Practical Dimension of the Zhuangzi

本文透過遊魚之喻以解釋《莊子》哲學。我提出要掌握遊魚之喻的意義，必須要探討魚與水之間的關係。本文共分五節。首先，我就既有的解讀方法，也就是分別論魚與論水的譬喻作一概要說明，並指出此一進路在解釋莊書中「道」的概念上的不足。接著，我提出「承給（承擔、給予）意義」，一個替代「價值／意義」的語辭，來發掘遊魚之喻所隱涵的關鍵：立足之地。在第三節，我循承給意義來進行關於遊魚之喻的解讀。第四節透過「脆弱性」的概念，來解釋我們在成心主導下所失去的一種自然能力。我也透過討論莊書中嬰兒與渾沌這兩個對比形象，來說明脆弱性的導引作用。最後，我總結，莊書提供深具實踐意義的建議，讓人─尤其是身處涵蘊多元價值之現代社會的你我─在所處情境中不懈因應，在任一既定社會脈絡內展開充實的生活，採取具創造性的態度去發掘社會世界中的無限可能性。

This article explains Zhuangzi's philosophy by analyzing the metaphor of the graceful fish. I argue that to discover the essence of the graceful fish metaphor, we have to look into the relationship between the fish and the water in which it dwells. The article consists of five sections. First, I start by a brief review of common readings of the metaphors of the water and the fish and their insufficiency to relate to the idea of Dao/daos in the Zhuangzi. Second, I propose an interdisciplinary approach based on the notion of “affordance”-- a substitute for “value/meaning”--that enables us to unveil the underlying key element pertaining to the image of the graceful fish: the ground. Third, an analysis of the graceful fish metaphor is presented after the explanation of affordance. Forth, I draw on the concept of vulnerability to explain the natural ability we are born with but buried due to a dominant completed heart-mind. I explain how vulnerability steers our way by comparing two images found in the Zhuangzi: infants vs. Hundun. Fifth, I sum up my findings and conclude that the Zhuangzi provides pragmatic advices for individuals--especially those who now live in a modern society that embrace social plurality-to live their lives to the fullest within any given social context by constantly adapting to the situation and therefore creatively exploring the limitless possibilities in the social world.