Inside and Outside of Virtue:A New Interpretation of Virtue in Zhuangzi
There is a consensus among scholars that the meaning of"virtue"(德)was gradually internalized after the Spring and Autumn period.In recent studies of Zhuangzi's philosophy,this is mainly reflected in the concept of"virtue"as"nature"(性),which in turn is reflected in the concepts of"using talent to discuss character(才)"and"using what does not appear to discuss the formless".However,it is the view of this paper that the"Inner Chapters"of Zhuangzi provide a complete discourse on"virtue".Although previous scholars'investigations from the perspective of"nature"have the evidence of the outer chapters,their findings tend to be superficial,and they obscure the possibility of a more in-depth elaboration of Zhuangzi's"theory of virtue".On the one hand,the"virtue"discussed in the"Inner Chapters"has an internal meaning,but it refers not to"nature"but to a state of mind that is one and undivided and permeable.The way of speaking of"virtue without form"(德不形)indeed makes it easy for people to regard virtue only as a description of a state of mind,thus neglecting the external manifestation of"virtue".In fact,the"form"of"non-form"and the"outside"of"the inner thoughts are in tune with what's going on outside"are actually two different things.The only way to have a more comprehensive understanding of Zhuangzi's theories is to further investigate how the internal and external aspects of virtue are compatible with each other.On the other hand,the focus in interpreting Zhuangzi's theory of virtue is the sentence"his character is perfect but his virtue is without form"(才全而德不形),in which"perfect character"is an imitation of the self-sufficiency of the mind and its tendency to respond to things.The phrase"without form"further refers to the fact that virtuous people do not get lost in the pursuit of fame but manifest the self-sufficiency of the mind in a holistic way.The above interpretation of Zhuangzi's theory of virtue is not a reaction against the tendency of virtue to be"internal",although it intends to promote the external manifestation of"virtue".The manifestation of virtue is based on the self-sufficiency of the internal mind.In other words,the mind provides the conditions and the field for the realization of the possibility of"moral character can be built"(成德),and the confirmation of virtue can only be based on the mind of the subject.However,compared to other texts of the same period,Zhuangzi does not refer to"virtue"as an internal moral source or an ethical behavior,but places it between the internal and the external.This unique interpretive structure is quite different from the discussion of virtue at the level of ethical or political philosophy.Because the actual intention of Zhuangzi's discussion of virtue is to make an attempt to realize the principle of unity.There is always a separation between the internal and external worlds,and the state of the mind,which is one and undivided,connects with everything.The whole of virtue is presented in the external world,so that internal and external harmony can be realized.In this sense,Zhuangzi's discussion of virtue truly implements the principle of unity.
万方数据
维普
