荀子「天論」的旨趣：「知天」論述的主題 = Knowing Heaven: The Purpose of the "Discussion of Heaven" of the Xunzi
Resource
臺大中文學報, 46, 051-086
Journal
臺大中文學報
Journal Issue
46
Pages
051-086
Date Issued
2014-09
Date
2014-09
Author(s)
Wu, Z.X.
Abstract
This article reexamines Xunzi’s chapter “Discussion of Heaven” and argues that it elaborates not on “heaven” but on “knowing heaven.” It is not a thesis explaining what the Way of Heaven is and presenting the proper understanding of the regular natural world, but a speech demonstrating the speaker’s attempt to carry out the Way with utterances. By introducing his paradigm of political actions, Xunzi teaches his audience how to complete themselves, to accomplish things, to know heaven, and to avert the endless disasters caused by unenlightened human actions. It underlies the “Discussion of Heaven” that heaven and earth are the genesis of all things in the world, and that sages can and should bring out all things’ full potentials. This present article in fact touches on policy making, values and thinking, public management, as well as the ethics and responsibility of politics. Against the popular opinion that conceives the “heaven” in the “Discussion of Heaven” as “nature,” it identifies how the natural philosophy and subjective philosophy, which are often used to interpret this topic, deviate from the spirit of Chinese classical culture.
Subjects
荀子、天論、天命、知天、天地生成論
Xunzi、“Discussion of Heaven”、Mandate of Heaven、knowing heaven、theory of heaven and earth as the origins of the universe
Type
journal article