承認自然 ──霍耐特承認理論與王夫之氣的思想

Abstract

本文討論霍耐特交互承認理論中的共感，同時與王夫之氣的思想對話，以便探究「承認自然」的課題。霍耐特的承認理論涉及人與自己、與他人及與自然的承認關係，主張共感的承認優先於認知。他雖然考慮到對於人類以外的世界也懷有一種先在的承認態度，但卻是以間接的方式，某種程度化約到人與人之間的交往關係來談承認自然。我將試圖在霍耐特承認理論的框架下，一方面吸納他論及人的交互共感的理論優點，另一方面則藉由王夫之氣的思想中能夠整合自然與社會關係的洞見，來補充霍耐特理論較為薄弱的環節。同時，也返回到法蘭克福學派第一代理論家班雅明與阿多諾論及的「氣韻」（aura），由美學的進路來探討在共感的承認關係中人的自我理解為何與自然有關。

This paper aims to explore the theme of recognition of nature by discussing Axel Honneth’s theory of the reciprocal recognition as well as Wang, Fu-zhi’s thought of Qi. Honneth argues that affective recognition is primary to cognition, which involves one’s self-understanding, reciprocal recognition with other persons and recognition for nature. I attempt to demonstrate that Honneth’s theory of recognition has been to some extent reduced to interaction between human persons and takes into account of nature only through an indirect way. I seek to synthesize the advantages of Honneth’s approach, which focuses on an anthropology of inter-subjectivity, with Wang, Fu-zhi’s thought of Qi, which provides essential insight to enable the integration of nature and society within the theory of recognition. It would be also helpful to trace the first generation of theorists of the Frankfurt School, namely Benjamin and Adorno, combining their aesthetic discussions about aura with thought of Qi, so that we can see how one’s self-understanding should connect with nature in the framework of recognition.