理學論述的「自然」概念
摘要
”Nature” is one important notion of Chinese philosophy. Though the Neo-Confucians did not specifically emphasize its significance, their key concepts nevertheless revolve about it. Besides the daily usage that means ”spontaneously,” the Neo-Confucians' notion of ”nature” falls into two categories. The first one serves as the predicate for the Way of Heaven's doings of creation, or the self-existent state of the properties of Dao. The other is an opposite term to ”unnatural” in the Doctrine of Efforts, an adverbial modifier for the ultimate state of Self-cultivation. According to the Neo-Confucians' concept of ”nature,” Neo-Confucian philosophy cannot be identified with the modern-day subjective Idealism, nor is it entirely Subjectivism. Because all mature moral conduct have to be executed in accordance with reason, ”nature” has to be established on the basis of ”necessity.”