论儒家自然哲学的“通”的思想及其生态意义

"通"是儒家自然哲学"究天人之际"的重要概念,指两个或更多对象之间物质、能量、信息、情感、精神的相互交换、吸收和影响;西方哲学无之。通有四方面的内容:一是自然现象之间的通气;二是人与自然之间的通气;三是人自身的通气;四是人和人之间情感和精神的相通。自然现象之间的通气有"川,气之导也"、"宣气"、"山泽通气"、"天地交"、"山川出云"等说法,表明了自然的有机性、整体性和内在性。人和自然的通是二者间的一种交互性关系。人是自然的一个环节,这是天人合一的物理基础;人又是自然的恻隐慈爱者、欣赏者、赞美者,二者融为一体、情景交融,从而能够对于自然有感、有应,道德地对待自然,为天地立心。这种关系超出了物理意义而进入了精神的和审美的领域。这是人与自然相通的本质含义,表明了儒家哲学的生态本性。通的范畴对于当今建立生态哲学具有重要意义。

On the Meaning of Tung in Confucian Natural Philosophy and Its Ecological Significances

Tung,an important unique Confucian concept expressing the inquiry of the relationship between Heaven and mam in Confucian natural philosophy,designates the interplay,the mutual influence,the exchange of material,energy,information,feelings and spirit between two or among more than two entities.Tung contains four aspects,which are respectively the communication of vital force between natural phenomenon,that between nature and man,that inside in a person’s physical body and that of feelings and spirit between different persons.Propositions suggesting the communication of vital force between natural phenomenon in Confucian natural philosophy are as follows:"the function of rivers is to circulate the vital force," "the vital force circulates between mountain and swamps," "Heaven and Earth intercourses," "clouds come out of mountains and rivers," and "vital force ventilates." These entire propositions show the organic feature,the wholeness and the immanence of nature in Confucian natural philosophy.The communication between man and nature is a kind of inter relationship whereby man deems himself as one part of nature,which lays the foundation of the unification of Heaven and man and,at the same time,man also makes himself the sympathizer,appreciator and praise giver of nature;therefore he integrates himself into nature and forms one body with it,so as to be able to sense nature and response to it and treat it morally by establishing the "mind of Heaven and Earth".This kind of relationship,which,at its highest stage,goes beyond the physical realm and enters into a spiritual and aesthetical one,shows the essence of the communication between man and nature and the ecological nature of Confucian philosophy.Tung is of great significance for the construction of contemporary world ecological philosophy.