认识论视域下对冯友兰“正负”方法论的哲学反思

Philosophical Reflections on Feng Youlan’s “Positive and Negative” Methodology: An Epistemological Perspective

摘要: 作为当代新儒家的代表人物，冯友兰在充分吸纳中西哲学理论精髓的基础上，创造性地构建起“新理学”体系，在此之上提出了正负两种方法。这两种方法既是冯友兰为“新理学”创建的哲学分析工具，正底方法以逻辑分析为“新理学”搭建概念清晰的认识论框架，负底方法以“不说而说”为其衔接“天地境界”的本体论目标，二者共同构成其由“经验认知”通向“本体觉悟”的信念之基。而当代儒学本体论构建的关键，恰恰在于找到能够为本体奠定基础的核心信念。因此，从认识论视域勾勒出“正负方法”与新理学本体的内在关系，并评析其方法运用的效果，有助于进一步探讨其对当代儒学“逻辑清晰化”与“境界提升”双重目标的启示，为儒学认识论重建提供新思路。

Abstract: As a representative figure of contemporary New Confucianism, Feng Youlan creatively established the “New Rationalism” system (Xin Li Xue) by synthesizing the essential insights of Chinese and Western philosophy. On this foundation, he proposed the “Positive and Negative Methods.” These methods function as philosophical analytical tools for his “New Rationalism”: the Positive Method employs logical analysis to construct an epistemological framework with conceptual clarity, while the Negative Method, through “speaking through silence,” bridges the ontological goal of attaining the “cosmic realm.” Together, they form the epistemic basis for transitioning from “empirical cognition” to “ontological enlightenment.” The crux of constructing contemporary Confucian ontology lies precisely in identifying the core belief that can establish a foundation for the ontology. Therefore, delineating the internal relationship between Feng Youlan’s “Positive and Negative Methods” and the ontology of New Rationalism from an epistemological perspective, and evaluating their methodological effectiveness, can provide new insights into addressing the dual objectives of “logical clarification” and “spiritual elevation” in modern Confucianism, offering fresh pathways for reconstructing Confucian epistemology.