天变可畏乎:晚清彗星认识的更新与天道信仰的困境

发布时间：2018-03-03 08:38

  本文选题：彗星　切入点：天道信仰　出处：《复旦学报(社会科学版)》2017年06期 　论文类型：期刊论文

【摘要】：灾异论的彗星解释是古代中国天道信仰的重要表现形式。在这种思想传统中,彗星被认为是神圣存在对人世道德状态的谴责和告诫,这种观念在很长的岁月中被反复记载、阅读和阐释,并产生了相应的实践,维持并巩固了彗星与灾难的关联。灾异论的彗星解释作为一种世界观和宗教信条,在不同程度上促使人们尤其是统治者祈祷、忏悔、改过迁善,具备道德维系的功能。然而,晚清基督徒传入的以牛顿学说和哈雷学说为基础的彗星解释认为,彗星自有固定轨道,与人世行为无关,不应被看作天对人世行为的谴告,因而并不具备道德监察和道德维系的功能。基于彗星的科学解释更强的说服力,以及西方科学在近代中国积累起来的话语权,彗星的科学解释对灾异论的彗星解释取得了最终的胜利,清廷和大量知识分子最终放弃了灾异论的彗星解释。但这意味着需要同时放弃其道德维系的功能,天道信仰也会丧失其表现形式。有的知识分子因惋惜其道德维系功能而力图维护灾异论的彗星解释,有的则在放弃灾异论的前提下力图维持天道信仰。但因证据缺失、逻辑不自洽,两种回应方案都难以奏效。这种进退失据的窘境反映出宇宙祛魅给中国的天道信仰传统造成了巨大难题。新文化运动中的"代宗教"说、现代新儒家重讲"天人之际",都是对这一难题的不同回应。
[Abstract]:The comet interpretation of the catastrophe theory is an important manifestation of the belief in the Tao of Heaven in ancient China. In this tradition of thinking, the comet is regarded as a sacred being denouncing and admonishing the moral state of the world, a concept that has been repeatedly recorded for a long time. Reading and interpreting, and producing corresponding practices, maintain and consolidate the link between comets and catastrophes. As a world view and religious credo, the comet interpretation of the catastrophe theory has in varying degrees prompted people, especially the rulers, to pray and repent. The comet, which was introduced by Christians in the late Qing Dynasty on the basis of Newton's and Halley's theories, explained that comets had a fixed orbit and had nothing to do with human behavior. It should not be seen as a condemnation of human behavior, and therefore does not have the function of moral supervision and moral maintenance. The scientific explanation based on comets is more persuasive, and the right of voice accumulated by Western science in modern China. The scientific interpretation of comets won the ultimate victory over the comet interpretation of the catastrophe theory, and the Qing government and a large number of intellectuals finally abandoned the comet interpretation of the catastrophe theory. But this meant that it was necessary to give up the function of moral maintenance at the same time. Some intellectuals try to preserve the comet interpretation of the catastrophe theory because they regret its moral maintenance function, while others try to maintain the belief in the Tao of nature without the theory of disaster diversity. But because of the lack of evidence, Logic is inconsistent, and neither of the responses will work. This disenchantment reflects how the disenchantment of the universe has created a huge problem for the Chinese tradition of heavenly faith. The New Culture Movement's "generation religion" says, Modern Neo-Confucianism 's emphasis on the "time of Heaven and Man" is a different response to this problem.
【作者单位】： 上海师范大学历史学系;
【基金】：国家社科基金后期资助项目“天变道亦变:中国宗教的衰落(1833~1911)”(项目批准号:117FZS065)的阶段性成果
【分类号】：B933;K252
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本文编号：1560304