试论《管子》、《淮南子》等中国古代典籍中的朴素唯物主义哲学思想--兼与古希腊哲学的对话

在进行东西方哲学比较研究时,绝大多数学者都认为以古希腊哲学为代表的西方哲学关注本体论,而中国古代哲学更加注重实际.事实上,中国古代哲学与古希腊哲学一样,从一开始就存在着关注本体论的事实.我们的祖先不但在古希腊哲学家之前就提出了“五行”的哲学思想,而且更在“五行”思想产生前,他们就已经在思索、研究“土”、“水”、“气”等元素,并朦胧地提出了它们是物质世界的本原的观点.古代希腊哲学家们对于物质世界起源问题的探索是没有间断过的,有着清晰的发展脉络,中国古代探索世界本原的自然哲学则常常被以立身处世为目的的社会哲学所打断.

On the Simple Materialist Philosophical Thought in Guan Zi, Huai Nan Zi and Other Ancient Chinese Books and Records--Also a Dialogue with Ancient Greek Philosophy

Compared with ancient Greek philosophy in which much attention was paid to the origin of the world, most scholars believe that ancient Chinese philosophy focused on pratical social problems. In fact, ancient Chinese philosophers attached importance to the origin of the world just like their western counterparts did. Not only had they set forth the Principles of the Five Main Element before western philosophers began to do research in this area, they also had started to study earth , water , air etc. much earlier and regarded these elements as the main resources rearing the myriad creatures in the world. Nevertheless, west philosophers conducted constant research in the area of natrural philosophy in ancient Greece, but their Chinese counterparts research in this area was often interrupted by the so - called social philosophy.