27 Hegel

黑格尔

……the reasonable is that which is viable……

……可以站得住脚的就是有道理的…… 

Hilde let the big ring binder fall to the floor with a heavy thud. She lay on her bed staring up at the ceiling. Her thoughts were in a turmoil.

“砰!”一声,席德腿上的大讲义夹落到地上。她躺在床上瞪着天花板,脑中的思绪一团混乱。

Now her father really had made her head swim. The rascal! How could he?

爸爸真的把她弄得头昏脑胀。这个坏蛋!他怎么可以这样呢?

Sophie had tried to talk directly to her. She had asked her to rebel against her father. And she had really managed to plant an idea in Hilde's mind. A plan ...

苏菲已经试着直接对她说话了。她要求她反抗她的父亲,而且她真的已经让她脑中浮现了某个念头。一个计划……

Sophie and Alberto could not so much as harm a hair on his head, but Hilde could. And through Hilde, Sophie could reach her father.

苏菲和艾伯特对他是完全无可奈何,但是席德却不然。透过席德,苏菲可以找到她爸爸。

She agreed with Sophie and Alberto that he was going too far in his game of shadows. Even if he had only made Alberto and Sophie up, there were limits to the show of power he ought to permit himself.

她同意苏菲和艾伯特的说法,爸爸在玩他的影子游戏时的确是做得太过分了。就算艾伯特和苏菲只是他虚构的人物,可是他在展示他的力量时也应该有个限度呀。

Poor Sophie and Alberto! They were just as defenseless against the major's imagination as a movie screen is against the film projector.

可怜的苏菲和艾伯特!他们对于少校的想象力完全没有抵抗能力,就像电影银幕无法抵抗放映机一般。

Hilde would certainly teach him a lesson when he got home! She could already see the outline of a really good plan.

席德心想,在他回家时,她一定得给他一些教训!她已经大致想出一个捉弄他的好办法了。

She got up and went to look out over the bay. It was almost two o'clock. She opened the window and called over toward the boathouse.

她起床走到窗前去眺望海湾。已经快两点了。她打开窗户,对着船屋的方向喊: 

"Mom!"

“妈!”

Her mother came out.

妈妈出来了。

"I'll be down with some sandwiches in about an hour. Okay?"

“我再过一个小时左右就会带三明治到你那儿去,好吗?” 

"Fine."

“好。”

"I just have to read a chapter on Hegel."

“我要读有关黑格尔那一章。” 

Alberto and Sophie had seated themselves in the two chairs by the window facing the lake.

艾伯特和苏菲坐在面湖的窗户旁边的两张椅子上。

黑格尔

"Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hege was a legitimate child of Romanticism," began Alberto. "One could almost say he developed with the German spirit as it gradually evolved in Germany. He was born in Stuttgart in 1770, and began to study theology in Tubingen at the age of eighteen. Beginning in 1799, he worked with Schelling in Jena during the time when the Romantic Movement was experiencing its most explosive growth. After a period as assistant professor in Jena he became a professor in Heidelberg, the center of German National Romanticism.

“黑格尔(Georg Wihelm Friedrich Hegel)乃是浪漫主义的传人。”艾伯特开始说。“我们几乎可以说他是随着德国精神的发展而成长的。他在一七七O年出生于斯图加特,十八岁时开始在上宾根(Tubingen)研究神学。一七九九年时他在耶纳镇与谢林一起工作。当时正是浪漫主义运动狂飙的年代。他在耶纳当了一段时间的助理教授后,便前往德国民族浪漫主义的中心海德堡担任学校教授。

In 1818 he was appointed professor in Berlin, just at the time when the city was becoming the spiritual center of Europe. He died of cholera in 1831, but not before 'He-gelianism' had gained an enormous following at nearly all the universities in Germany."

一八一八年时,他在柏林任教。当时柏林正逐渐成为德国的精神中心。他在一八三一年死于霍乱。后来他的‘黑格尔主义’在德国各大学内吸引了无数的信徒。” 

"So he covered a lot of ground."

“这么说他的历练很广吗?” 

"Yes, and so did his philosophy. Hegel united and developed almost all the ideas that had surfaced in the Romantic period. But he was sharply critical of many of the Romantics, including Schelling."

“没错,他的哲学也是。黑格尔几乎统一了所有曾在浪漫主义时期出现的理念,并且加以发展。可是他却受到谢林等许多人的尖锐批评。” 

"What was it he criticized?"

“谢林怎么批评他的?” 

"Schelling as well as other Romantics had said that the deepest meaning of life lay in what they called the 'world spirit.' Hegel also uses the term 'world spirit,' but in a new sense. When Hegel talks of 'world spirit' or 'world reason,' he means the sum of human utterances, because only man has a 'spirit.'"In this sense, he can speak of the progress of world spirit throughout history. However, we must never forget that he is referring to human life, human thought, and human culture."

“谢林和其他的浪漫主义者曾经说过,生命最深刻的意义在于他们所谓的‘世界精神’上。黑格尔也用‘世界精神’这个名词,可是意义却不相同。黑格尔所指的‘世界精神’或‘世界理性’乃是人类理念的总和,因为惟独人类有‘精神’可言。只有从这个角度,他才可以谈世界精神在历史上的进展。但我们不可以忘记:这里他所说的世界精神是指人类的生命、思想与文化。” 

"That makes this spirit much less spooky. It is not lying in wait anymore like a 'slumbering intelligence' in rocks and trees."

“这样子这个精神听起来就不会这么恐怖了。不再像是个潜伏在岩石、树丛间的一个‘沉睡的精灵’。” 

 "Now, you remember that Kant had talked about something he called 'das Ding an sich.' Although he denied that man could have any clear cognition of the in-nermost secrets of nature, he admitted that there exists a kind of unattainable 'truth.' Hegel said that 'truth is subjective/ thus rejecting the existence of any 'truth' above or beyond human reason. All knowledge is human knowledge, he said."

“你应该还记得康德曾经谈过一种他称为‘物自身’的东西。虽然他否认人可以清楚认知自然最深处的秘密,但他承认世间有一种无法追求到的‘真理’。黑格尔却说‘真理是主观的’,因此他不承认在人类的理性之外有任何‘真理’存在。他说,所有的知识都是人类的知识。” 

历史之河

"He had to get the philosophers down to earth again, right?"

“他必须使哲学家们再度脚踏实地,对不对?” 

"Yes, perhaps you could say that. However, Hegel's philosophy was so all-embracing and diversified that for present purposes we shall content ourselves with highlighting some of the main aspects. It is actually doubtful whether one can say that Hegel had his own 'philosophy' at all. What is usually known as Hegel's philosophy is mainly a method for understanding the progress of history.

“嗯,也许可以这么说。不过,黑格尔的哲学可说是无所不包、丰富多样,因此我们在这里只能重点式地谈一谈他的某些主要理论。事实上,我们究竟是否能说黑格尔有他自己的哲学是很有疑问的。通常所谓的‘黑格尔哲学’主要是指一种理解历史进展的方法。

Hegel's philosophy teaches us nothing about the inner nature of life, but it can teach us to think productively."

黑格尔的哲学所教导我们的只有生命的内在本质,不过也可以教我们如何从思考中获取结论。” 

"That's not unimportant."

“这也不算不重要。” 

"All the philosophical systems before Hegel had had one thing in common, namely, the attempt to set up eternal criteria for what man can know about the world. This was true of Descartes, Spinoza, Hume, and Kant. Each and every one had tried to investigate the basis of human cognition. But they had all made pronouncements on the timeless factor of human knowledge of the world."

“黑格尔之前的哲学体系都有一个共通点,就是试图为人们对世界的知识建立一套永恒的标准。笛卡尔、史宾诺莎、休姆和康德等人都是如此。他们每一个人都曾经试图探索人类认知的基础,但他们都声称人类对于世界的知识是不受时间影响的。” 

"Isn't that a philosopher's job?"

“那不就是哲学家该做的事吗?” 

"Hegel did not believe it was possible. He believed that the basis of human cognition changed from one generation to the next. There were therefore no 'eternal truths/ no timeless reason. The only fixed point philosophy can hold on to is history itself."

“黑格尔认为这是不可能的。他相信人类认知的基础代代不同,因此世间并没有‘永恒的真理’,没有‘永久的理性’。哲学唯一可以确切掌握的一个定点就是历史。” 

"I'm afraid you'll have to explain that. History is in a constant state of change, so how can it be a fixed point?"

“请你说清楚一些好吗?历史处于不断变化的状态,它怎么会是一个定点呢?” 

"A river is also in a constant state of change. That doesn't mean you can't talk about it. But you cannot say at which place in the valley the river is the 'truest' river."

“一条河也是处于不断变化的状态,但这并不表示你无法谈论它。可是你不能说这条河流到河谷里的那一点时才是‘最真’的河。” 

"No, because it's just as much river all the way through."

“没错,因为它流到哪里都是河。” 

"So to Hegel, history was like a running river. Every tiny movement in the water at a given spot in the river is determined by the falls and eddies in the water higher upstream. But these movements are determined, too, by the rocks and bends in the river at the point where you are observing it."

“所以,对黑格尔来说,历史就像一条流动的河。河里任何一处河水的流动都受到上游河水的涨落与漩涡的影响。但上游河水的涨落与漩涡又受到你观察之处的岩石与河湾的影响。” 

"I get it... I think."

“我大概懂了。” 

"And the history of thought--or of reason--is like this river. The thoughts that are washed along with the current of past tradition, as well as the material conditions prevailing at the time, help to determine how you think. You can therefore never claim that any particular thought is correct for ever and ever. But the thought can be correct from where you stand."

“思想(或理性)的历史就像这条河流。你的思考方式乃是受到宛如河水般向前推进的传统思潮与当时的物质条件的影响。因此你永远无法宣称任何一种思想永远是对的。只不过就你所置身之处而言,这种思想可能是正确的。” 

"That's not the same as saying that everything is equally right or equally wrong, is it?"

“这和宣称每一件事物都对、也都不对是不同的,不是吗?” 

"Certainly not, but some things can be right or wrong in relation to a certain historical context. If you advocated slavery today, you would at best be thought foolish. But you wouldn't have been considered foolish 2,500 years ago, even though there were already progressive voices in favor of slavery's abolition. But we can take a more local example. Not more than 100 years ago it was not considered unreasonable to burn off large areas of forest in order to cultivate the land. But it is extremely unreasonable today. We have a completely different--and better--basis for such judgments."

“当然不同。不过事情的对错要看历史的情况而定。如果今天你还提倡奴隶制度,一定会被人耻笑。但在二五OO年前,这种想法也并不可笑,虽然当时已经有人开始主张废除奴隶制度。不过,我们还是来举一个范围比较小的例子吧。不到一百年前,人们还认为大举焚烧森林以开垦土地的做法没有什么不对,但在我们今天看来,这种做法简直是胡搞。这是因为我们现在有了新的、比较好的依据可以下这种判断。” 

"Now I see."

“我懂了。” 

"Hegel pointed out that as regards philosophical reflection, also, reason is dynamic; it's a process, in fact. And the 'truth' is this same process, since there are no criteria beyond the historical process itself that can determine what is the most true or the most reasonable."

“黑格尔指出哲学思维也是如此。我们的理性事实上是动态的,是一种过程。而‘真理’就是这个过程,因为在这个历史的过程之外,没有外在的标准可以判定什么是最真、最合理的。” 

"Examples, please."

“请举一些例子吧。” 

"You cannot single out particular thoughts from antiquity, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, or the Enlightenment and say they were right or wrong. By the same token, you cannot say that Plato was wrong and that Aristotle was right. Neither can you say that Hume was wrong but Kant and Schelling were right. That would be an antihistorical way of thinking."

“你不能从古代、中世纪、文艺复兴时期或启蒙运动时期挑出某些思想,然后说它们是对的,或是错的。同样的,你也不能说柏拉图是错的,亚理斯多德是对的,或者说休姆是错的,而康德和谢林是对的。因为这样的思考方式是反历史的。” 

"No, it doesn't sound right."

“嗯,这样做好像是不对。” 

"In fact, you cannot detach any philosopher, or any thought at all, from that philosopher's or that thought's historical context. But--and here I come to another point--because something new is always being added, reason is 'progressive.' In other words, human knowledge is constantly expanding and progressing."

“事实上,你不能将任何哲学家或任何思想抽离他们的历史背景。不过这里我要讲到另外一点:由于新的事物总是后来才加上去的,因此理性是‘渐进的’。换句话说,人类的知识不断在扩张,在进步。” 

"Does that mean that Kant's philosophy is nevertheless more right than Plato's?"

“这个意思是不是说康德的哲学还是比柏拉图的有道理?” 

"Yes. The world spirit has developed--and progressed--from Plato to Kant. And it's a good thing! If we return to the example of the river, we could say that there is now more water in it. It has been running for over a thousand years. Only Kant shouldn't think that his 'truths' will remain on the banks of the river like immovable rocks. Kant's ideas get processed too, and his 'reason' becomes the subject of future generations' criticism. Which is exactly what has happened."

“是的。从柏拉图到康德的时代,世界精神已经有了发展和进步,这也是我的想法。再以刚才说的河流为例,我们可以说现在的河水比从前多,因为它已经流了一千多年了。但话说回来,康德也不能认为他所说的‘真理’会像那些巨大的岩石一样一直留在河岸上。他的想法同样也会再经过后人的加工,他的‘理性’也会成为后世批评的对象。而这些事情确实都发生了。” 

"But the river you talked about. . ."

“可是你说的河……” 

"Yes?"

“怎样?” 

"Where does it go?"

“它会流到哪里去呢?” 

"Hegel claimed that the 'world spirit' is developing toward an ever-expanding knowledge of itself. It's the same with rivers--they become broader and broader as they get nearer to the sea. According to Hegel, history is the story of the 'world spirit' gradually coming to consciousness of itself. Although the world has always existed, human culture and human development have made the world spirit increasingly conscious of its intrinsic value."

“黑格尔宣称‘世界精神’正朝着愈来愈了解自己的方向发展,河流也是一样。它们离海愈近时,河面愈宽。根据黑格尔的说法,历史就是‘世界精神’逐渐实现自己的故事。虽然世界一直都存在,但人类文化与人类的发展已经使得‘世界精神’愈来愈意识到它固有的价值。” 

"How could he be so sure of that?"

“他怎么能这么确定呢?” 

"He claimed it as a historical reality. It was not a prediction. Anybody who studies history will see that humanity has advanced toward ever-increasing 'self-knowledge' and 'self-development.'

“他宣称这是历史的事实,不是一个预言。任何研究历史的人都会发现人类正朝向愈来愈‘了解自己’、‘发展自己’的方向前进。

According to Hegel, the study of history shows that humanity is moving toward greater rationality and freedom. In spite of all its capers, historical development is progressive. We say that history is purposeful."

根据黑格尔的说法,各项有关历史的研究都显示:人类正迈向更多的理性与自由。尽管时有震荡起落,但历史的发展仍是不断前进的。所以我们说历史是超越的,或是有目的的。” 

"So it develops. That's clear enough."

“这么说历史很明显的不断在发展。” 

"Yes. History is one long chain of reflections. Hegel also indicated certain rules that apply for this chain of reflections. Anyone studying history in depth will observe that a thought is usually proposed on the basis of other, previously proposed thoughts. But as soon as one thought is proposed, it will be contradicted by another. A tension arises between these two opposite ways of thinking. But the tension is resolved by the proposal of a third thought which accommodates the best of both points of view. Hegel calls this a dialectic process."

“没错。历史是一长串的思维。黑格尔并指出这一长串思维的规则。他说,任何深入研究历史的人都会发现:每一种新思想通常都是以前人的旧思想为基础,而一旦有一种新思想被提出来,马上就会出现另外一种和它抵触的思想,于是这两种对立的思想之间就会产生一种紧张状态,但这种紧张状态又会因为有人提出另外一种融合了两种思想长处的思想而消除。黑格尔把这个现象称为一种辩证过程。” 

"Could you give an example?"

“你可以举个例子吗?” 

"You remember that the pre-Socratics discussed the question of primeval substance and change?"

“你还记得苏格拉底之前的哲学家讨论过原始物质与自然界变化的问题吗?” 

"More or less."

“多少记得一点。” 

"Then the Eleatics claimed that change was in fact impossible. They were therefore forced to deny any change even though they could register the changes through their senses. The Eleatics had put forward a claim, and Hegel called a standpoint like that a thesis."

“后来伊利亚派的哲学家宣称事实上变化不可能发生。虽然他们能透过感官察觉到各种变化的发生,但他们仍然否认任何变化的存在。伊利亚派哲学家所提出的这种观点,就是黑格尔所称的‘正题,。” 

"Yes?"

“然后呢?” 

"But whenever such an extreme claim is proposed, a contradictory claim will arise. Hegel called this a nega-tion. The negation of the Eleatic philosophy was Heracli-tus, who said that everything flows. There is now a tension between two diametrically opposed schools of thought. But this tension was resolved when Empedocles pointed out that both claims were partly right and partly wrong."

“可是根据黑格尔的法则,这样强烈的说法一被提出后,就一定会出现另外一种与它抵触的学说。黑格尔称此为‘反题’或‘否定’。而否定伊利亚派哲学的人就是赫拉克里特斯。他宣称‘万事万物都是流动的’。这样一来,这两种完全相反的思想流派之间就出现了一种紧张状态。但这种紧张状态后来被恩培窦可里斯消除了,因为他指出两种说法都各有正确之处,也各有错误之处。” 

"Yes, it all comes back to me now . . ."

“对,我现在想起来了。” 

"The Eleatics were right in that nothing actually changes, but they were not right in holding that we cannot rely on our senses. Heraclitus had been right in that we can rely on our senses, but not right in holding that everything flows."

“恩培窦可里斯认为,伊利亚派哲学家指出没有什么事物会真正发生变化这点是对的,但他们错在认为我们不能依赖感官。赫拉克里特斯说我们可以依赖感官,这是正确的,但他说万事万物都是流动的,这点却是错误的。” 

"Because there was more than one substance. It was the combination that flowed, not the substance itself."

“因为世间的物质不只一种。流动的是物质的组合,而不是物质本身。” 

"Right! Empedocles' standpoint--which provided the compromise between the two schools of thought--was what Hegel called the negation of the negation."

“没错。恩培窦可里斯的观点折衷了两派的思想,这就是黑格尔所称的‘否定的否定’。” 

"What a terrible term!"

“多可怕的名词!” 

辩证法

"He also called these three stages of knowledge thesis, antithesis, and synthesis. You could, for example, say that Descartes's rationalism was a thesis--which was contradicted by Hume's empirical antithesis. But the contradiction, or the tension between two modes of thought, was resolved in Kant's synthesis. Kant agreed with the rationalists in some things and with the empiricists in others. But the story doesn't end with Kant. Kant's synthesis now becomes the point of departure for another chain of reflections, or 'triad.' Because a synthesis will also be contradicted by a new antithesis."

“他也称这三个知识的阶段为‘正’、‘反’、‘合’。举例来说,你可以称笛卡尔的理性主义为‘正’,那么与他正好相反的休姆的经验主义就是‘反’。但这两种思潮之间的矛盾或紧张状态后来被康德的‘合’给消除了。康德同意理性主义者的部分论点,但也同意经验主义者的部分论点。可是故事并非到此为止。康德的‘合’现在成了另外一个三段式发展的起点,因为一个‘合’也会有另外一个新的‘反’与它相抵触。” 

"It's all very theoretical!"

“这一切都非常理论。” 

"Yes, it certainly is theoretical. But Hegel didn't see it as pressing history into any kind of framework. He believed that history itself revealed this dialectical pattern. He thus claimed he had uncovered certain laws for the development of reason--or for the progress of the 'world spirit' through history."

“没错,这当然是很理论的。可是黑格尔并不认为这样的描述是把历史压缩为某种架构。他认为历史本身就展现了这种辩证模式。他并因此宣称他已经发现了理性发展(或‘世界精神’透过历史进展)的若干法则。” 

"There it is again!"

“又来了。”

"But Hegel's dialectic is not only applicable to history. When we discuss something, we think dialectically. We try to find flaws in the argument. Hegel called that 'negative thinking.' But when we find flaws in an argument, we preserve the best of it."

“不过黑格尔的辩证法不仅适用于历史而已。当我们讨论事情时,我们也是以辩证的方式来思考。我们会试着在别人所说的道理中找出缺失。黑格尔称此为‘否定的思考’。可是当我们在一个道理中找到缺点时,我们也会把它的优点保存下来。” 

"Give me an example."

“请你举一个例子。” 

"Well, when a socialist and a conservative sit down together to resolve a social problem, a tension will quickly be revealed between their conflicting modes of thought. But this does not mean that one is absolutely right and the other totally wrong. It is possible that they are both partly right and partly wrong. And as the argument evolves, the best of both arguments will often crystallize."

“当社会主义者和保守派人士一起坐下来讨论如何解决一个社会问题时,由于他们的思想形态互相矛盾,因此彼此间很快就会出现紧张状态。可是这并不表示他们当中有一个绝对正确,而另外一个完全错误。可能他们两个都有一部分对,一部分错。在争辩过程中,双方论点中最佳的部分通常都会显现出来。” 

"I hope."

“希望如此。” 

"But while we are in the throes of a discussion like that, it is not easy to decide which position is more rational. In a way, it's up to history to decide what's right and what's wrong. The reasonable is that which is viable."

“可是当我们正在讨论问题时,并不容易看出哪一方的说法比较合理。可以说,究竟谁是谁非,必须由历史来决定。可以站得住脚的就是有道理的。” 

"Whatever survives is right."

“也就是说能够留存下来的观点就是对的。” 

"Or vice versa: that which is right survives."

“反过来说也就是:对的才能留存下来。” 

"Don't you have a tiny example for me?"

“你可以举一个小小的例子,好让我能确切了解吗?” 

"One hundred and fifty years ago there were a lot of people fighting for women's rights. Many people also bitterly opposed giving women equal rights. When we read the arguments of both sides today, it is not difficult to see which side had the more 'reasonable' opinions. But we must not forget that we have the knowledge of hindsight.

“一百五十年前有很多人为妇女争取权益,但也有许多人激烈反对。今天我们阅读双方的论点时,并不难看出哪一方的意见比较‘有道理’。但不要忘了我们这是后见之明。‘

If 'proved to be the case' that those who fought for equality were right. A lot of people would no doubt cringe if they saw in print what their grandfathers had said on the matter."

事实证明那些争取两性平等的人是对的。如果我们在书上读到自己的祖父在这个问题上的看法,一定有很多人会觉得很难为情。” 

"I'm sure they would. What was Hegel's view?"

“一定的。那黑格尔有什么看法呢?” 

"About equality of the sexes?"

“你是说关于两性平等?” 

"Isn't that what we are talking about?"

“我们现在说的不就是这个吗?” 

"Would you like to hear a quote?"

“我可以引述他在书里写的一段话,你想不想听?” 

"Very much."

“当然想。” 

" 'The difference between man and woman is like that between animals and plants,' he said. 'Men correspond to animals, while women correspond to plants because their development is more placid and the principle that underlies it is the rather vague unity of feeling. When women hold the helm of government, the state is at once in jeopardy, because women regulate their actions not by the demands of universality but by arbitrary inclinations and opinions. Women are educated--who knows how?--as it were by breathing in ideas, by living rather than by acquiring knowledge. The status of manhood, on the other hand, is attained only by the stress of thought and much technical exertion.' "

“黑格尔说,男女之不同犹如植物与动物之不同。动物具有较多的男人性格,而植物则较具女人性格,因为女人的发展基本上是属于静态的。在本质上她是一个犹豫不决的感情体系。如果由女人来领导政府,则国家将有覆亡之虞,因为她们并不是依据整体的需求行动,而是随兴之所至而决定的。女人主要是透过生活(而非读书)吸收思想,借此获得某种教育。相反的,男人为了在社会上争取一席之地,则必须勤练技能、苦心研读。” 

"Thank you, that will be quite enough. I'd rather not hear any more statements like that."

“谢啦,这样就够了。这类的话我可不想再听了。” 

"But it is a striking example of how people's views of what is rational change all the time. It shows that Hegel was also a child of his time. And so are we. Our 'obvious' views will not stand the test of time either."

“不过这正是一个很好的例子,足以证明人们对于事情合理与否的观念一直都随着时间改变。它显示黑格尔也会受到当代观念的影响,我们也是。我们心目中很‘理所当然’的看法也不一定经得起时间的考验。” 

"What views, for example?"

“什么样的看法?请举个例子。” 

"I have no such examples."

“我举不出什么例子来。” 

"Why not?"

“为什么?” 

"Because I would be exemplifying things that are already undergoing a change. For instance, I could say it's stupid to drive a car because cars pollute the environment. Lots of people think this already. But history will prove that much of what we think is obvious will not hold up in the light of history."

“因为我所能举的例子都是一些已经开始在改变中的事物。举例来说,我会说开车是很愚笨的行为,因为车辆会污染环境。但许多人已经想到这点了。可是历史将会证明那些被我们认为是理所当然的事物有很多是无法在历史上立足的。” 

"I see."

“原来如此。” 

"We can also observe something else: The many men in Hegel's time who could reel off gross broadsides like that one on the inferiority of women hastened the development of feminism."

“还有一件事:黑格尔的时代有许多男人大放厥辞,声称女人不如男人,但事实上他们这种做法正加速了女权运动的发展。” 

"How so?"

“为什么会这样呢?” 

"They proposed a thesis. Why? Because women had already begun to rebel. There's no need to have an opinion on something everyone agrees on. And the more grossly they expressed themselves about women's inferiority, the stronger became the negation."

“他们提出了一个‘正题’。为什么呢?因为妇女已经开始反抗了。否则如果大家的看法一致,就没有必要再发表意见了。而他们愈是高唱女人不如男人的论调,否定的力量也就变得更强。” 

"Yes, of course."

“当然啰。” 

"You might say that the very best that can happen is to have energetic opponents. The more extreme they become, the more powerful the reaction they will have to face. There's a saying about 'more grist to the mill.' "

“可以说一种意见如果能受到激烈的反对,那是再好不过的事。因为反对者愈极端,他们所激发的反应也就愈强。有人说这是‘谷子愈多,磨坊就磨得愈起劲’。” 

"My mill began to grind more energetically a minute ago!"

“我的磨坊在一分钟以前就开始磨得更起劲了。” 

"From the point of view of pure logic or philosophy, there will often be a dialectical tension between two concepts."

“从纯粹逻辑或哲学的观点来看,两个观念之间总是存在有一种辩证式的紧张关系。” 

"For example?"

“例如?” 

"If I reflect on the concept of 'being,' I will be obliged to introduce the opposite concept, that of 'nothing.' You can't reflect on your existence without immediately realizing that you won't always exist. The tension between 'being' and 'nothing' becomes resolved in the concept of 'becoming.' Because if something is in the process of becoming, it both is and is not."

“如果我思考‘存在’这个概念,我势必需要引进‘不存在’这个相反的概念。你不可能思考自我的存在而不立即体悟自己不会永远存在的事实。然后‘存在’和‘不存在’之间的紧张关系被‘变化’这个观念消除了。因为如果某件事物正在变化的过程中,则它可以算是‘存在’,也可以算是‘不存在’。” 

"I see that."

“我懂了。” 

"Hegel's 'reason' is thus dynamic logic. Since reality is characterized by opposites, a description of reality must therefore also be full of opposites. Here is another example for you: the Danish nuclear physicist Niels Bohr is said to have told a story about Newton's having a horseshoe over his front door."

“因此黑格尔的‘理性’有一种动态的逻辑。既然‘事实’的特性就是会有相反的事物,因此要描述事实就必须同样描述与事实相反的事物。我再举一个例子:据说,丹麦核子物理学家波尔(Nie1s Bohr)在他的前门上方挂了一个马蹄铁。” 

"That's for luck."

“那是为了带来好运气。” 

"But it is only a superstition, and Newton was anything but superstitious. When someone asked him if he really believed in that kind of thing, he said, 'No, I don't, but I'm told it works anyway.' "

“可是这只是个迷信而已,而波尔却是个一点也不迷信的人。当有人问他是否真的相信这种事情时,他说,不,我不相信,但人家告诉我这样真的有效。” 

"Amazing."

“真奇怪。” 

"But his answer was quite dialectical, a contradiction in terms, almost. Niels Bohr, who, like our own Norwegian poet Vinje, was known for his ambivalence, once said: There are two kinds of truths. There are the superficial truths, the opposite of which are obviously wrong. But there are also the profound truths, whose op-posites are equally right."

“他的回答相当具有辩证意味,几乎可说是自相矛盾。波尔就像我们挪威的诗人文耶(Vinje)一样,是以模棱两可而出名。他有一次说:世间有两种真理。一种是表面的真理,与它相反的说法显然是错误的。但另外一种则是深层的真理,与这样的真理相反的说法却是对的。” 

"What kind of truths can they be?"

“这些是什么样的真理呢?” 

"If I say life is short, for example . . ."

“例如我说生命是短暂的……” 

"I would agree."

“我同意。” 

"But on another occasion I could throw open my arms and say life is long."

“可是在另外一种场合,我可能会张开双臂说生命是漫长的。” 

"You're right. That's also true, in a sense."

“嗯,从某个角度来看,这也没错。” 

"Finally I'll give you an example of how a dialectic tension can result in a spontaneous act which leads to a sudden change."

“最后我要举一个例子显示一种辩证的紧张关系如何能够导致一个自发性的行动,并因此造成突然的改变。” 

"Yes, do."

“请说吧。” 

"Imagine a young girl who always answers her mother with Yes, Mom ... Okay, Mom ... As you wish, Mom ... At once, Mom."

“假设有一个小女孩总是回答她妈妈说‘是,妈’、‘好的,妈’、‘我听你的,妈’、‘马上,妈’。” 

"Gives me the shudders!"

“真可怕!” 

"Finally the girl's mother gets absolutely maddened by her daughter's overobedience, and shouts: Stop being such a goody-goody! And the girl answers: Okay, Mom."

“过了一阵子,她的妈妈对女儿这种过度顺从的态度感到很恼火。于是她大吼:‘请你不要再当这样一个乖宝宝了!’而这女孩仍然回答说:‘好的,妈。” 

"I would have slapped her."

“要是我,就会给她一巴掌。” 

"Perhaps. But what would you have done if the girl had answered instead: But I wonf to be a goody-goody?"

“我想你一定会的。可是如果那女孩回答说:可是我想当一个乖宝宝呀!那你会怎么做呢?” 

"That would have been an odd answer. Maybe I would have slapped her anyway."

“这个回答很奇怪。也许我还是会打她一巴掌。” 

"In other words, the situation was deadlocked. The dialectic tension had come to a point where something had to happen."

“换句话说,这种情况就是一个僵局。在这里,辩证式的紧张关系已经到了一种一定会发生某件事情的地步。” 

"Like a slap in the face?"

“比如说打她一个耳光之类的?” 

"A final aspect of Hegel's philosophy needs to be mentioned here."

“我们还要讲到黑格尔哲学的最后一个层面。” 

"I'm listening."

“我在听呀。”

"Do you remember how we said that the Romantics were individualists?"

我还记得我们说过浪漫主义者是个人主义者吗?” 

"The path of mystery leads inwards ..."

“神秘之路通往内心……” 

"This individualism also met its negation, or opposite, in Hegel's philosophy. Hegel emphasized what he called the 'objective' powers. Among such powers, Hegel emphasized the importance of the family, civil society, and the state. You might say that Hegel was somewhat skeptical of the individual. He believed that the individual was an organic part of the community. Reason, or 'world spirit/ came to light first and foremost in the interplay of people."

“这种个人主义在黑格尔的哲学中也遇到了它的否定或相反。黑格尔强调他所谓的‘客观的’力量,意思就是家庭和国家。你也可以说黑格尔对个人抱持着一种不信任的态度,他认为个人是团体的一个有机的部分。理性(或‘世界精神’)必须透过人与人之间的互动才会彰显。” 

"Explain that more clearly, please!"

“请你说得详细一点。” 

"Reason manifests itself above all in language. And a language is something we are born into. The Norwegian language manages quite well without Mr. Hansen, but Mr. Hansen cannot manage without Norwegian. It is thus not the individual who forms the language, it is the language which forms the individual."

“理性最主要是透过语言而显现,而我们说什么语言是一出生就注定的。即使没有汉生(Hansen)先生这个人,挪威语也一样很好,但汉生先生没有挪威话就不行了。因此并不是个人造就语言,而是语言造就个人。” 

"I guess you could say so."

“应该是这样的吧。” 

"In the same way that a baby is born into a language, it is also born into its historical background. And nobody has a 'free' relationship to that kind of background. He who does not find his place within the state is therefore an unhistorical person. This idea, you may recall, was also central for the great Athenian philosophers. Just as the state is unthinkable without citizens, citizens are unthinkable without the state."

“除了语言之外,我们会有哪一种历史背景也是一生下来就注定了。没有人和这类背景之间能有一种‘自由’的关系。因此,那些无法在国家中找到定位的人就是没有历史的人。你也许还记得这种观念也是雅典哲学家的重点。没有人民,固然就没有国家,但如果没有国家,也就没有人民。” 

"Obviously."

“显然是这样。” 

"According to Hegel, the state is 'more' than the individual citizen. It is moreover more than the sum of its citizens. So Hegel says one cannot 'resign from society.' Anyone who simply shrugs their shoulders at the society they live in and wants to 'find their soul/ will therefore be ridiculed."

“根据黑格尔的说法,国家并不只是由人民形成的一个集合。因此黑格尔说人不能‘舍弃社会’。因此,如果有人对他们所生长的社会不屑一顾,而一心一意只想‘寻找自己的灵魂’,是会受到耻笑的。” 

"I don't know whether I wholly agree, but okay."

“我不确定我完全同意这点,但这没有关系。” 

"According to Hegel, it is not the individual that finds itself, it is the world spirit."

“根据黑格尔的说法,个人不能发现自我,只有世界精神能够发现自我。” 

"The world spirit finds itself?"

“世界精神发现它的自我?” 

"Hegel said that the world spirit returns to itself in three stages. By that he means that it becomes conscious of itself in three stages."

“黑格尔说世界精神回到自我的过程可分为三个阶段,也就是说世界精神在经历三个阶段后才意识到自我。” 

"Which are?"

“你就一次说个清楚吧。” 

"The world spirit first becomes conscious of itself in the individual. Hegel calls this subjective spirit. It reaches a higher consciousness in the family, civil society, and the state. Hegel calls this objective spirit because it appears in interaction between people. But there is a third stage ..."

“首先,世界精神意识到自我在个人中的存在。黑格尔称此为主观精神。然后它在家庭、社会与国家之中达到更高的意识。黑格尔称此为客观精神,因为它在人与人之间的互动显现。可是还有第三个阶段……” 

"And that is ... ?"

“那是什么?” 

"The world spirit reaches the highest form of self-realization in absolute spirit. And this absolute spirit is art, religion, and philosophy. And of these, philosophy is the highest form of knowledge because in philosophy, the world spirit reflects on its own impact on history. So the world spirit first meets itself in philosophy. You could say, perhaps, that philosophy is the mirror of the world spirit."

“世界精神在‘绝对的精神’中达到最高形式的自我实现。这个‘绝对的精神’就是艺术、宗教和哲学。其中又以哲学为最高形式的知识,因为,在哲学中,世界精神思考它对历史的冲击,因此世界精神是最先在哲学中发现了它的自我。你不妨说哲学是世界精神的镜子。” 

"This is so mysterious that I need to have time to think it over. But I liked the last bit you said."

“这太神秘了,我需要时间好好消化一下。不过我喜欢你说的最后一句。” 

"What, that philosophy is the mirror of the world spirit?"

“你是说‘哲学是世界精神的镜子’这一句吗?” 

"Yes, that was beautiful. Do you think it has anything to do with the brass mirror?"

“对,这句话很美。你想这话和那面铜镜有关系吗?” 

"Since you ask, yes."

“既然你问到了,我只好说是。” 

"What do you mean?"

“什么意思?” 

"I assume the brass mirror has some special significance since it is constantly cropping up."

“我猜那面铜镜一定有某种特别的意义,才会时常被提到。” 

"You must have an idea what that significance is?"

“你一定知道它有什么意义吧?” 

"I haven't. I merely said that it wouldn't keep coming up unless it had a special significance for Hilde and her father. What that significance is only Hilde knows."

“我不知道。我只是说,如果它对席德和她的父亲没有什么特别的意义的话,它不会时常出现。只有席德知道它有什么意义。” 

"Was that romantic irony?"

“这算是浪漫主义的反讽吗?” 

"A hopeless question, Sophie."

“这种问题是不会有答案的,苏菲。” 

"Why?"

“为什么呢?” 

""Because it's not us working with these things. We are only hapless victims of that irony. If an overgrown child draws something on a piece of paper, you can't ask the paper what the drawing is supposed to represent.""

“因为运用这些手法的不是我们,我们只是那个反讽中两个倒楣的受害者罢了。假使一个大小孩在一张纸上画了一个东西,你不能问那张纸说他画的那东西是代表什么。” 

"You give me the shudders."

“你这话真可怕。”