中國現代哲學思惟中之認識論議題

Epistemological Developments in Modern Chinese Philosophy

中國現代哲學思惟所聚焦之關鍵性議題，對於關切「東方哲學」前途之學者而言，除必須適時提出一不與當時科學知識與觀點明顯衝突之「形而上學」論述，以重新確認人類「價值理念」產生之根源，並思考「文明社會」之前程問題外；另一重要之關注點，即是由西學輸入所引發之「認識論」議題。此一認識論議題，就急迫性之需求言，關鍵在於：必須釐清人類思惟中屬於「價值判斷」與「知識理論」間之區隔，以及「嚴格義之科學」作為學術方法與學術概念之「實證論」義涵。而其必然導致之結果，則是衝擊中國本有之「義理」與「道術」思想，從而帶動對於中國學術思惟之根本性質及其「有效性」之全面檢討。對於整體學術史之發展而言，此項發展，不僅關繫中國未來學術之走向，抑且影響學者對於過往中國歷史文化之理解與評價。本文論述所採取之角度，極重要之一點，即是不將此一問題，僅放置於「現代」之論述場域，而係將之連繫於明清以來中國學術思惟中之思想脈絡，予以觀察與詮釋。由此探測此一屬於哲學思惟之發展，對於中國未來歷史所可能形塑之意義。文中將中國現代「認識論」議題之結構方式，依不同語境，區分為「以現代『科學哲學』為基礎之『知識』觀及其所延伸之文化批判」，與「以『哲學史』為基礎之廣義之認識論議題之討論」兩類。並將近代學者中，以「哲學」之觀點與方式，討論「認識論」議題者，依序予以個案之分析；其中包括：王國維、章炳麟、歐陽漸、太虛、印順、熊十力、牟宗三、梁漱溟、金岳霖、馮友蘭、賀麟、張君勱、王星拱等人。最終則是以「思想史」與「學術史」之觀點，說明中國現代「認識論」論述推進之過程中，所凝聚形成之各式重要觀點。

One of the essential issues in modern Chinese philosophy during the first half of the 20th century is how to reestablish its foundations on epistemology. The nature of the subjects in discussion was mainly introduced and defined by the contemporary Western thinkers. For modern Chinese scholars, two major issues need to be addressed for the future development of Chinese philosophy: one is the presentation of a new metaphysical statement not contradictory with modern science, by which they are able to re-establish a value system and address the problem of modern civilization; the other is an overall examination of the impact of Western epistemology on Chinese philosophy. The introduction of Western epistemology to China encouraged contemporary Chinese scholars to rethink the difference between “value judgment” and “theory of knowledge,” which were two sides of the same coin in traditional Chinese philosophy, and to reconsider the meaning of Western empiricism as a branch of academic methodology. The aim of this study is to analyze some of the key philosophers who have taken part in the debates and offered their contributions. The thinkers discussed in the article include Wang Guowei (1877-1927), Zhang Binglin (1869-1936), Ouyang Jian (1872-1946), Taixu (1890-1947), Yinshun (1906-2005), Liang Shuming (1893-1988), Xiong Shili (1885-1968), Mo Zongshan (1909-1995), Zhang Junmai (Carsun Chang, 1887-1969), Jin Yuelin (1895-1984), Feng Youlan (1895-1990), He Lin(1902-1992), Hu Shi (1891-1962), and Wang Xinggong (1888-1949).