推進國際關係理論的哲學詮釋學框架

Abstract

本論文使用漢斯‧格奧爾格‧伽達默爾（Hans-Georg Gadamer）成立的哲學詮釋學的理論與方法，以新的概念應用於國際關係理論。本文將伽達默爾的視域融合（fusion of horizons）概念，作為人類理解世界與他者的方法。並以哲學詮釋學概念作為框架，建立激進的建構主義（constructivist）與複雜的理論方法，為國際互動的規範性問題提供了答案。具體而言，本文的理論框架把國際互動視為對話者們在敘事結構中的交會，透過這種交會互動，體現出自我與他者（Self-Other）的關係。語言不僅有助於了解這個世界的形塑過程，也是人們在這個世界中因互相瞭解產生共同感（sensus communi）時傳達意義方法，而共同感獲得能動性後，即能化身為對話者，本文稱之為民族精神（Volksgeists）。由於個人對世界的直接詮釋會不停重塑人們對於世界的理解，因此民族精神的互動會不斷地塑造國際體系。為了辯證由哲學詮釋學框架產生的理論知識，本文進行認識論的探究，論證詮釋學方法在回應社會科學中綜合問題 （synthetic questions）的優勢。最後，本文運用哲學詮釋學的理論框架，分析中國與國際環境的詮釋互動，同時地對中國在國際舞台上的意圖與意向性進行最新的評估。在本文對於中國的分析中，顯現了強烈的領土收復主義（irredentist）的情緒，驅動了當代中國的民族精神，導致中國與國際環境可能發生衝突，此結論呼應了伽達默爾的先見與傳統概念。

This thesis contributes to international relations theory by provision of a novel conceptualisation of interaction in the international, formulated through adaptation of the theory and method of Hans-Georg Gadamer’s philosophical hermeneutics. By utilising interpretation and Gadamer’s fusion of horizons as the human means of understanding the world and the Other, a radical constructivist and sophisticated theoretical approach is built through a framework of philosophical hermeneutical concepts, which together provide answers to normative questions of interaction in the international. Specifically, the framework construes international engagement as meetings of interlocutors in structures of discourse, through which Self-Other relationships manifest. Language is not only the formation of understanding about the world, but is also the means of transmission of meaning between lifeworlds constructed of shared meaning between individuals (sensus communi), which are given agency and manifestation as interlocutors, termed here as Volksgeists. Meetings of Volksgeists continually shape the international system as the temporal immediacy of interpretation constantly redefines understanding of the world for individuals. In order to validate the knowledge attained through the philosophical hermeneutical framework, epistemological reasoning is conducted to demonstrate the advantages of hermeneutical methods in response of synthetic questions in social science. Finally, this thesis operationalises the framework by conducting an analysis of China and its interpretative engagement with the international, simultaneously providing an up-to-date assessment of Chinese intention and intentionality towards the international arena. The analysis of China demonstrates a strong irredentist sentiment formulated on Gadamerian pre-understanding and tradition which drives the contemporary Chinese Volksgeist, leading to conflict with the international.