8月20日，第24届世界哲学大会在北京落下帷幕，数个“首次”——百年以降首次在中国举行、首次有超过六千学者参会，让大会余音绕梁。其在跨文化哲学交流中的影响，将来长久的时间当中显现。光明融媒特约记者对话第24届世界哲学大会主席、著名哲学家莫兰，回顾世界哲学的中国之旅，他眼中的历史性突破，他眼中的“紧张又刺激的时刻”，他眼中的北京铜锅与柏拉图《会饮篇》。
（图为德莫特·莫兰与特约记者戴宁昆）
一、 谈大会印象：“一次历史性的突破”、“上次这样的盛会可能要追溯到达摩祖师的法会”
记者：本次大会的关键词是“首次”。穷究人类历史，这是首次超过6000名优秀的哲学学者聚集在一起庆祝人类的智慧。用您的话来说，上次这样的盛会可能要追溯到达摩祖师举办的法会。这也是国际哲学团体联合会在其118年的历史中首次在中国举办。作为本次大会的组织者，FISP（国际哲学团体联合会）的主席，将这一切奇迹成为可能的人，在世界哲学大会正式闭幕后，您现在有何感想？
莫兰：谢谢你的邀请，让我有机会在光明日报这个平台上回答你的问题。
在本次会议中，我被中国人民对于哲学的热情所震撼。是的，这次大会从很多角度上来说都是一次历史性的突破。首先，这是世界哲学大会第一次来到中国。其次，这也是第一次有超过6000名来自世界各地，五湖四海的知名哲学家共同参与的一次世界哲学大会。这更是第一次世界哲学大会努力去尝试搭建不同文化间哲学交流的桥梁。我个人认为，中国哲学在本次大会格外的出彩。中国哲学作为世界哲学史中传承最为完整的一支，在本次大会过后必定会在世界各地绽放出智慧的灵光，成为世界哲学的主流。在中国本身逐渐意识到祖先遗留下的宝贵思想财富，并准备发扬光大的同时，世界各地也都张开了双臂在欢迎着中国独特的哲学理念。
因此在这里，我必须说北京大学完美地完成了承办本次大会的挑战。这得益于北京大学党委书记郝平先生，北京大学校长林建华教授以及北京大学副校长王博教授的大力支持。以及北京大学杜维明教授在世界孔子大会上的那个提议，这过去仿佛梦境一般八天的源头。他的想法与在委员会中同样来自中国的谢地坤教授的想法不谋而合。他们两人的支持对于促成本次大会在中国的顺利召开也有着不可估量的作用。
本次世界哲学大会毫无疑问是成功的，在看到无数人在初次谋面之际便碰撞出智慧的火花，并在之后收获了美好的友谊时，我无法抑制住我的欣喜。
因此我也要对为本次大会付出汗水，并提供了完美服务的翻译人员表达由衷的感谢。在大会召开期间，我总是惊叹于工作人员能够给予我们如此完美的平台来交流我们对于知识与文化的了解。
他们的翻译工作涵盖了俄语，德语，西班牙语，法语，中文以及英文六个工作语言。可以说，正是因为这些幕后英雄的存在，本次大会才会有可能进行下去。
二、 谈留学建议：“喜欢帮助他人，或是喜欢参加社会活动的申请者，有着致命的吸引力”
记者：我知道您本人既是世界知名学府Boston College（波士顿学院）的哲学系系主任，同时您又很熟悉中国的教育体系，所以我想请问您，您对于想要出国学习哲学的中国学生有任何的建议吗？
莫兰：首先我要说的是，中国有着极度优秀的教育系统。中国完全可以为他的识字率与专科教育而骄傲。在有着良好的基础教育的同时，中国也拥有世界顶尖的大学与学科以及庞大的高知识分子人群。我还记得我从中国教育部部长陈宝生先生口中得知中国受过高等教育的人数时的震惊。
我知道中国在鼓励最好的学生出国进行学习，将新鲜的观点与新的科技带回中国。中国海外留学生遍布世界，在美国的顶尖大学尤为突出。因此我的第一条建议便是：提高自己语言的竞争力，尤其是英语，法语以及其他国际通用语言。对于想要去美国留学的学生来说，他们需要去参加SAT（美国学术能力评估测验）或是GRE（美国研究生入学考试）并达到一定的标准。对于参加这些考试，我的建议是练习，练习再练习。每当你练习过后，它就会变的简单一些。我个人虽然并不同意这些标准化考试可以很好的衡量一个学生，但就像中国的高考，这是无法避免的。
我的第二条建议便是开发自己的兴趣，属于你个人的爱好。美国的大学，尤其是我所在的Boston College（波士顿学院），我们会从全方位的看待一个人。所以年轻人啊，请你努力的去运动，努力的去发展自己，让自己成为一个更加完善的人吧！对于美国大学来说，喜欢帮助他人，或是喜欢参加社会活动的申请者有着致命的吸引力。最后的最后，永远不要放弃。当然，多选些学校肯定没有害处（笑）。
三、 谈翻译缺憾：大会核心主题是孔子的“学以成人”（learning to be human），不是“做事像个大人样”（behave like an adult）
记者：您是否可以与我们分享大会幕后的一些小瞬间？您和参会者会不会有时候也会感觉翻译有时候词不达意？
莫兰：实际上本次世界哲学大会的核心主题便是一种“误读”。我们使用“学以成人”作为主题本是想援引孔子修身的理念。但可惜在翻译中却有一个更加世俗的解读，即“做事像个大人样”。就像我在大会开始的时候说的，我们真的不是故意的。（笑）
如果让我说一件让我印象深刻的幕后故事，我想便是今年春末，临近大会召开时发生的事。在准备工作紧张进行的时候，我们意识到了一个甜蜜的麻烦，本次大会的参会人数已经远远超过了我们的预期与北京大学校园可以接待的上限，所以我们必须在会议开始之前找到其他会场保证会议的正常召开。幸运的是，北京大学党委书记郝平先生与北京大学校长林建华教授为我们争取到了曾经举办奥运会的地方——中国国家会议中心作为我们的会场。这个会场可以满足我们所有的需求，但可惜由于时间的紧迫，我们没有办法将所有参会者的宾馆重新安排。这时中国筹办委员会通过每天组织往返酒店的巴士，再次拯救了我们。这的确是我在组织会议中紧张而又刺激的时刻！
四、 谈现象学：与中国文化不谋而合
记者：您是当今现象学最伟大的哲学家之一，您是否愿意与我们的读者分享一下，为什么现象学，或是哲学格外的吸引您呢？
莫兰：虽然我是因为在现象学方面的著作而被中国读者所熟知，但其实我也同时是一位研究中世纪哲学的学者（笑）。对于我来说，现象学对于理解跨文化哲学研究是很有帮助的，因为它强调了参与者的第一人称视角。通过现象学，我们需要意识到人类所有的行为都是有意义的。可以说，现象学给予了我们一个途径，用以阐明人类在实践、艺术、诗歌和日常生活中所发现的意义。从这个角度来说，中国的文化与现象学不谋而合。
五、 谈最喜欢的中西哲学家：“因为他是柏拉图”，“从孔子的《论语》开始”
记者：在哲学的历史长河中，如果您必须选择一位，谁会是您最喜欢的思想家？您是否有喜爱的中国哲学家？
莫兰：我认为在西方所有研习哲学的人在起步阶段应该都会去阅读柏拉图的对话录。原因很简单，因为他是柏拉图。他从不直接告诉读者们他的想法，而是在书中展现出不同人的不同观点，让读者自己去悟。比如书中会有关于什么才是最好的社会制度的辩论，或是美德的构成究竟是怎样的辩论等等。在阅读这些对话的时候，柏拉图从不告诉我们什么是对的，而希望我们在面对各种各样不同声音的时候我们往往可以发现我们自己的想法。这些通过自己反复思索而得到想法，我认为是无价的。
我本人也曾学习过中国哲学，从儒家，道家到佛家；从孔子到王阳明。在看过了那么多的鸿篇巨著之后，我还是认为如果要理解中国，还是需要从孔子的《论语》开始。中国的传统经过上千年岁月的洗礼，哪怕在今天，儒家思想仍然深入骨髓。这种智慧让孔子成为我最为敬佩与喜爱的中国哲学家。
六、 谈中国菜的哲学味：“一顿简易的便餐也有可能是一段富有哲理的对话的源头”
记者：智慧在拉丁语里被称为sapientia，这个单词同时又与味觉，口感和感官有关，那在您心目中是否有一道中国菜的口味和感觉让您觉得可以代表中国的文化内核呢？
莫兰：来到中国对于我来说是一场感官上的盛筵。从视觉上来说，在此次旅行之前，我就曾有幸得以去拜访著名艺术家曹俊。他的画作将传统的中国元素与深刻的哲思有机地结合到了一起，给我留下了深刻的印象。
从味觉上来说，我想中国的饮食文化应当是世界上最复杂也分布最广的饮食文化了，没有之一。在现如今快餐横行的年代，中国的饮食文化不仅没有衰退，反而越发的蓬勃发展，让我感叹不已。在大会结束的前一天晚上，我在海淀尝到了地道的北京铜锅涮肉。那是一段令人迷幻的感官之旅——炫目的颜色，铜锅扑面而来的热气，氤氲的水蒸气，每个人对于食材的不同选择等等等等。在那个刹那，我突然意识到了为什么中国人对于吃饭如此的重视，因为这不仅仅是填饱肚子的一顿饭，更是一种社交，一种文化。在这里，我由衷的请求所有的中国人，请你们务必将你们的饮食文化保护好。饮食文化从来不是件小事，如同柏拉图在《会饮篇》中就曾有无数精彩的演讲与祝辞，一顿简易的便餐也有可能是一段富有哲理的对话的源头。饮食文化是根植于人类精神的一部分，一定不要轻视生命里的每一顿饭。再次感谢你给我与中国人民交流的机会，谢谢！
（光明融媒特约记者 戴宁昆、张天颜）
Ningkun Dai Tianyan (Evelyn) Zhang
Guangming Daily's conference correspondent, commentator
Question 1:
To begin, I would like to emphasize that a key word of this meeting was “first.” It is the first time that over 6,000 philosophers gathered together to celebrate human wisdom. In your words, the last time such a meeting took place can be traced back to the meeting that Buddha Dharma held. It is also the first time that, in its long history, such a meeting was ever held in China. It inspires and encourages thousands of people in China. So my question to you, as the organizer of that meeting and the president of FISP, who made this miracle possible, is: how do you feel now that the World Congress of Philosophy has been successfully concluded?
Thank you for your question and the opportunity to speak to the Guangming Daily. I am really impressed that the Chinese people have such a strong interest in Philosophy. Yes- - you are right – this conference was a “first” in many senses. It was the first time to come to China (the World Congresses of Philosophy began in 1900 in Paris and, after the Second World War, UNESCO established the International Federation of Philosophical Societies –called FISP in French-- to run the Congress). It was also the first time we had so many countries and philosophers participating – from all over China and from the rest of the world – more than 6000 participants. But it was also a first time to really try to practice dialogue between cultures and to develop intercultural philosophy. After this Congress, Chinese philosophy – perhaps the longest unbroken tradition of written philosophy in the world – will be a central part of philosophy everywhere in the World. The world welcomes Chinese philosophy and China too is becoming more aware of its own great heritage. So here I have to say that Peking University took on this great challenge to host this Congress – especially Hao Ping, Chairperson of the University Council, Lin Jinhua, President of PKU, and Wang Bo, Vice-President of PKU. The first idea to host the Congress came many years ago from the great world-expert on Confucian humanism, Professor TU Weiming of Peking University. When he was still at Harvard University, before he moved back to China, he had the dream of this Congress and he was a member of the Programme Committee. There were many other members of this Programme Committee – especially Prof. XIE Dikun, from CASS in Beijing, and in fact all Chinese philosophy departments participated. I am so happy that it has been a successful conference – many people met each other here for the first time and exchanged their ideas. Also I have to thank the translators who managed to provided an excellent service in translating all the plenary talks – including Russian, German, Spanish, French, Chinese and English. It was amazing to see so many people working together to provide a successful platform to share knowledge and cultural understanding.
Question 2:
On the wake of this meeting, and thanks to your efforts, over 6,000 philosophers from around the world, got a chance to know China better. We know you are the Chair of the philosophy department at Boston College, and that you are familiar with Chinese education system: do you have any suggestions for those students in China who wish to study philosophy abroad?
First of all, China has a wonderful educational system. I listened to your Minister for Education, CHEN Baushen, talk about the huge number of students in China in secondary schools and in higher education. China can be proud of its high literacy rates, and its professional education. Its institutions are top class – and your universities are the top of the world rankings. I know China also encourages its best students to gain international experience by studying and working abroad, to bring back fresh ideas and new skills and, of course, develop competence in English, French and other international languages. I know that Chinese students are very highly regarded all over the world and are also especially strongly represented in US Universities. My advice to students who want to go to study in the USA is first of all to develop their language competence in English. They have to sit standard test examinations – the SATs (Standard Aptitude Tests) and GREs (Graduate Record Examinations) – and reach s certain standard. My advice is to keep practicing these tests – they get easier the more you practice them. I personally think they are not a good guide for evaluating students – but like the Gaokau examination in China- - it cannot be avoided. But the really important thing is to develop your hobbies, your personal interests. US universities—especially Boston College which follows the Jesuit, Catholic tradition -- look at the whole person. So, please, young people, develop your sports, your hobbies, your involvement with others. The US for example likes students who are socially engaged, who volunteer to help others, who are active in their communities. I hope these suggestions help. The main thing is to keep trying – and to select a range of suitable colleges.
Question 3:
Would you like to share with us some of those moments behind the scenes of the Congress? Any moments were you or the participants of the Congress may have felt as being “lost in translation”?
Actually, the very theme of the Congress – “learning to be human” – has a much more mundane, everyday meaning in Chinese – “behave like an adult”. But that is not what we meant. We meant to invoke the Confucian ideal of self-cultivation. I spoke about this in my opening speech. I think the biggest panic for us “behind the scenes” was in late Spring before the Congress began, when we realised that the Congress had grown too big for Peking University campus—and so we had to look urgently for alternatives. Fortunately, Chairperson Hao Ping and President Lin Jinhua were able to secure the China National Conference Center (CNCC) in Beijing – which hosted the Olympic Games. This venue could accommodate our needs but it was too late to move everyone’s hotel – so, again, the Chinese Organizing Committee organised buses every day. That was amazing but also very stressful at the last minute!
Question 4:
You are one of the greatest philosophers in phenomenology: could you please share with our readers who may be able to this particular school of thought your thoughts as to what makes phenomenology of particular interest to you?
I am known in. China for my work in phenomenology but I am also a scholar in medieval philosophy. Phenomenology is really helpful for doing intercultural philosophy because it values the first-person perspective of the participant. We need to recognize that all our activities are meaningful – and phenomenology gives us a way of elucidating the meaning found in human practices, in art, in poetry, and in daily life. In this sense phenomenology is also very well known in China.
Question 5:
If you had to name one philosopher as your favorite thinker from the history of philosophy who may that be? Do you have any favorite Chinese philosopher?
I suppose everyone in the West must begin by reading the dialogues of Plato because he was a genius. He doesn’t tell us what he thinks – he presents a discussion in his texts between people holding different views. So, for instance, there can be a debate about the nature of the best kind of society and political institution, or a debate about what really constitutes virtue. Reading these dialogues, we hear different voices and we are forced to start thinking for ourselves. I have also studied Chinese philosophy – Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism, from Confucius to Wang Yang Ming – but really I think in China you have to start from Confucius’ Analects. The Chinese tradition—even now – is deeply Confucian – so he is my favourite Chinese philosopher.
Question 6:
Another term for wisdom is sapientia which also implies the sense of taste and of savoring: is there any particular taste of the Chinese cuisine that you see as exemplifying the Chinese culture?
Visiting China is an experience that overwhelms the senses. I had the honour to visit the artist studio of your great artist CAO Jun and his paintings are very vivid evocations of both traditional Chinese themes and deep philosophical ideas. But in terms of popular culture, Chinese food culture is perhaps the most sophisticated and varied in the world. I applaud the way China has protected its varied culture of food even in these days of convenience “fast food”. On the night before the end of the Congress, I enjoyed a traditional “hot pot” in a local restaurant in Haidian. That is really a multi-sensory experience – the vibrant colours, the heat, the steam, cooking one’s own choice of meats and vegetables. It is really social eating. Please – protect your culture – and preserve your traditions of eating. Actually, preserving food culture is not a small matter, since it involves much more – including concern for our natural environment and “food security”. So you can see, even sharing a meal can be the start of a philosophical dialogue. Indeed, Plato set one of his dialogues, Symposium, at a banquet with lots of speeches and toasts. That is the human spirit.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to talk to the Chinese people.
Thank you!
Dermot Moran
President, FISP
21 August 2018
内容来源：光明日报客户端
本期编辑：孙嘉靖 王佳
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