帕斯卡尔对公理方法的哲学思考  

Pascal's Reflection on Axiomatic Method

作　　者：王幼军[1] 

机构地区：[1]上海师范大学哲学学院,上海200234

出　　处：《上海交通大学学报（哲学社会科学版）》2015年第5期81-88,116,共9页Journal of Shanghai Jiao tong University(Philosophy and Social Sciences)

基　　金：国家社科基金重大项目(10&ZD063)

摘　　要：帕斯卡尔(1623-1662)对于几何公理方法的哲学思考主要体现在他的两部作品《论几何学的精神》和《思想录》中。他认为公理化方法是最适合于人类优点和局限的论证方法,这种方法应该成为所有智力活动所仿效的形式。难能可贵的是帕斯卡尔也认识到几何学方法并非是完美无缺的,这种演绎方法不能定义一切也不能证明一切,并且这种方法的源头——原始定义和公理的选择是人依据来自于"自然之光"的自明性以及人心的本能直觉而感知的,人心当然受制于肉体的局限性。另一方面,帕斯卡尔还意识到公理方法应用于修辞学(说服的艺术)等超出几何学领域之外的复杂性,尤其是人对公理的感知受到天性、习俗、交往甚至情感等不确定因素的影响。怎样克服人对公理的先天局限性?帕斯卡尔认为根植于心智中的理性和源于内心的情感和直觉在认识真理或建立公理感知的过程中都不可或缺,他批驳了理性主义的虚妄和怀疑主义的虚无,并通过提出一些可以实施的操作而完成了对于两者的超越。Pascal （1623--1662）, a French philosopher and scientist, dealt with the axiomatic method by which the Greeks created a great geometrical system in a paper entitled ＂the spirit of geometry and the art of persuasion＂ （1657 or 1658）. The future thinking on the method was also reflected in his famous apologetic work ＂Pens6es＂ （1670）. Pascal argued that geometry provides the only method for conducting demonstration. It is the best way to persuading an interlocutor in the entire sphere of intellectual activity. However, Pascal took for that the axiomatic method is far from perfect because of its less persuasion and its more complicated implications when used beyond the field of mathematics. Especially, man＇s knowledge of axioms is influenced by his nature, custom and passions. Pascal argued that there are two paths towards knowing truth, one is rational knowledge which is discursive and located in the mind, while the other is through the heart which is intuitive and immediate. Both are equally valid and certain. In this sense, Pascal surpassed both the skepticism and dogmatism.

关 键 词：帕斯卡尔 公理方法 说服的艺术 

分 类 号：O1-0[理学—数学]