“下学而上达”何以可能？——“心”的三重诠释
How Can “Xia-Xue and Shang-Da (Learning the Lower to Attain the Higher)” Be Possible? —A Threefold Interpretation of the “Xin” (Mind-Heart)

“下学而上达”被儒学视作人成就德性的必经之路。“下学”指向形而下的洒扫应对进退之事；“上达”指向形而上的德性之知、天理天命。前者是具体而微的行动，能够为感官所把握；后者是蕴藏在事物背后、为人处世的根本道理，不能为感官所把握。两者二者界限分明，“学”何以能够“达”？对此，如何理解“下学”和“上达”两者之间的关系就显得尤为重要。“下学”对应的具体之事是其然，“上达”对应的无形之道是所以然，所以然蕴含在其然之中。“心”是中国哲学的重要范畴，能够为“下学而上达”的贯通做出阐释。一则，它包含了情感的部分，是“下学”之行为的动力源泉。二则，它能随物而感，随感而应，为形而下与形而上的连接创造了条件，搭建了桥梁。三则，它具有“思”的官能，可以将具体的形而下条理化为抽象的形而上，从而实现“下学上达”之飞跃。
In Confucianism, the principle of “xia-xue and shang-da” is regarded as an essential path to achieving moral virtue. “Xia-xue” refers to concrete, mundane practices such as daily rituals, social interactions, and ethical conduct—actions graspable through sensory experience. “Shang-da”, by contrast, signifies metaphysical knowledge of virtue and alignment with cosmic principles or heavenly mandate, which transcend sensory perception. While these two domains appear distinct, the question arises: How can “learning” lead to “attainment”? Resolving these hinges on clarifying their relationship. Xia-xue pertains to “what is so”, the observable phenomena, while shang-da corresponds to “why it is so”, the underlying principles embedded within phenomena. The “xin”, a central concept in Chinese philosophy, bridges this divide through three dimensions: Firstly, affective Motivation: The xin generates emotional drive, fueling xia-xue’s practical actions. Secondly, responsive Mediation: The xin perceives and responds to phenomena, creating a bridge between the concrete and the abstract. Thirdly, reflective Transcendence: The xin’s faculty of reflection transforms mundane experiences into abstract moral principles, enabling the leap from xia-xue and shang-da.