A Brief Discussion on Mr. Mou Zongsan’s “Conscience Trapped Theory”

面对中国传统哲学中缺乏科学与民主知识的问题，牟宗三先生在沿着康德对理性的思考路径，结合佛学中“一心二门”思想的基础上提出了“良知坎陷说”。“良知坎陷说”经历了不同的发展时期，从“内圣–外王”的理论模式到“以仁心觉情收敛智相”，逐渐理论化、形上化。“良知坎陷说”对于传统哲学的现代转型有着重要的意义，它不仅摒弃了五四以来形成的对于传统思想的拒斥态度，并且为弥补传统哲学的缺陷做出了一次重要的尝试。尽管如此，我们不能忽视“良知坎陷说”的理论内部矛盾以及具体论证过程中的不足之处。Faced with the problem of the lack of scientific and democratic knowledge in traditional Chinese philosophy, Mr. Mou Zongsan proposed the “conscience trapped theory” based on Kant’s thinking path on reason and the “one mind, two schools” thought in Buddhism. The theory of “conscience trap” has gone through different stages of development, from the theoretical model of “inner sage - outer king” to “using benevolence to perceive emotions and converge wisdom”, gradually becoming theoretical and metaphysical. The theory of “conscience trap” has significant implications for the modern transformation of traditional philosophy. It not only abandons the rejection of traditional ideas formed since the May Fourth Movement, but also makes an important attempt to compensate for the shortcomings of traditional philosophy. However, we cannot ignore the internal contradictions of the theory of “conscience trap” and the shortcomings in the specific argumentation process.