論王船山之文明史觀及其歷史哲學

Wang Fuzhi’s Idea of Civilization and His Philosophy of History

王船山（夫之，字而農，號薑齋，1619-1692）之所以致力於哲學思想之系統營造，最終之目的，本在企圖為儒學之未來，重新完善其立論之基礎。此項具哲學意義之發展，若結合之於船山各項經、史著作之內容而為之解析，則其延伸之建構性意義，實可區分為二重：一屬「體」，即是有關「性命」與「治道」理論之建設與展衍；一屬「用」，則是以「文明」為主體之歷史經驗之總結與運用。對於船山而言，「性命」與「治道」之理論，本即蘊含於傳統之「經教」中，其難處在於：須將其中運作之核心觀念與論述，作出系統性之哲學解析。船山於此乃以「《易》學」為之統攝。至於基於「性命」與「治道」理論而有之所謂「展衍」問題，船山則主要延伸出幾項脈絡：一為禮制問題，一為風化問題，一為治術問題，一為氣節問題，一為詩教問題，一為學術問題。而凡此諸項，船山皆將之結合於文明發展之形勢與「歷史性」之因果中，加以分析；因而與第二部分所謂「用」者，具有可以合併討論之關連。此種議題之相通，呈顯於船山著作中之形態，即是：其論「經」中之事義時，常以結合於「史論」之方式為之；而其論「史」，則又多於其議論中，表現出一種帶有哲學高度之識見。有此二類。至於綜合船山之見，則又可於其中，鑒識出一種特殊之文明史觀，與具有「理論」意義之歷史哲學。本文即以此為申義之目標。

Wang Fuzhi (王夫之，字而農，號薑齋，1619-1692) was long celebrated for his talented performance as a successful metaphysicist as well as a profound scholar in history and Chinese classics. But few knows that at the same time he not only developed an unique perspective on civilizations but also constructed a highly complicated theory of the philosophy of history which accorded with his dynamic philosophical viewpoints. The aim of this thesis following the author’s previous researches on Wang Fuzhi’s metaphysical system, is to explore Wang Fuzhi’s extraordinary ideas and penetrating insights as a theorist in these fields. In addition to this, the thesis also reveals that some elements of Wang Fuzhi’s thoughts and ideas still live and show their importance in present day historical studies. The outcome of this research no doubt will increase the weight that Wang Fuzhi carries in Chinese intellectual history.