Tuesday, December 22, 2009

知与不知

  在网上读到这则阿拉伯谚语:

He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool... shun him.
He who knows not, and knows that he knows not, is simple... teach him.
He who knows, and knows not that he knows, is asleep... wake him.
He who knows, and knows that he knows, is wise... follow him.

  尝试翻译为中文:

不知者不知其不知为愚……避之
不知者知其不知为简……教之
知者不知其知为眠……醒之
知者知其知为智……随之

  不能把这谚语当成是在将人分成四类,因为很少人是完全无知者,也没有人是全知者。

  所以,人总是有其知与不知之处,关键在于人知不知其知与不知之处。

  以此谚语用于观人用人,观察其知与不知,分辨其愚、简、眠、智之处,即可采取相应的避、教、醒、随之法。

  能如此观人用人,可谓知者。

  然而,能以此观己吗?

  我想这谚语可提供一反省之法,以此反观己之知与不知之处,转愚为简,化眠成智,所谓“知之为知之,不知为不知”,也可谓知者。

  这是不是格物致知呢?

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