哈佛經典
【邱鴻安】哈佛大學歷史上的著名校長艾略特(Charles Eliot)，在1909年時曾編過一套書，叫做「哈佛經典」(Harvard Classics)，這套書共51冊，所蒐經典名著，包括了古希臘的哲學和悲劇直至19世紀的達爾文進化論。艾略特編書的目的，是要讓沒有機會進哈佛的人，可以得到哈佛的教育；哈佛以前最重人文教育，所以艾略特希望，讀這套經典的人，可以得到西方人文傳統的精華。
美國作家彼哈(Christopher Beha)今年5月出版了一本新書，書裏所寫正是他讀「哈佛經典」的經驗。這套經典又叫做「五呎書架」(The Whole Five Feet)，因為全書51冊剛好放滿一個五呎的書架，彼哈的新書也以此為名。
讀彼哈的書，有一個意外的收獲，因為他討論到如何讀書的問題。彼哈自己畢業於普林斯頓大學，在讀「哈佛經典」時，只有27歲，剛克服了血癌，人生還沒有方向，想寫作，又不知道要寫什麼，因此他在一個寂寞的冬天，決心用一年的時間，每周一冊，直至讀畢全套書，希望從經典可以找到人生的智慧，解決自己如何活的問題。
因為有讀書的目的，所以彼哈真的讀出不少人生智慧，例如在人生最重要的課題生老病死上，他就有所發現─法國思想家巴斯卡說，再多的學問，也不能讓疾病和死亡沉默。(出自巴斯卡的「沉思錄」)
開始閱讀後不久，他的舅母得了皮膚癌，死亡立時變得逼近；他當時正讀到羅馬哲學家奧瑞利阿斯(Marcus Aurelius)的「沉思錄」，奧瑞利阿斯的忠告是：時間有限，如果不趕緊清除生命中的疑慮，你將像時間一樣消失，一去不回。
到了夏天，他舅母去世，而他自己也血癌復發，病痛和死亡更加逼近，他因此渴望從經典中得到慰藉。當他讀到英國哲學家米爾(John Stuart Mill)的自傳時，果然找到了鼓勵。聰明一世的米爾，因發現自己「只是一部理性的機器」(a mere reasoning machine)，以致精神崩潰，幸好在大病一場後，終告復元。米爾能夠痊癒，使彼哈找回希望。
新儒家徐復觀也鼓勵人讀經典，因為每門學問必有被視為經典的著作，因此為學者必須讀通經典，才能夠在一門學問上打下基礎。徐先生寫過文章，詳述他的讀書經驗，其中說到，他40多歲以前，幾乎沒有一天不讀書，但是卻因為沒有一定的目的，所以讀了幾十年書，卻空手而回，沒有得到什麼好處。自從悟到讀書必須有目的後，他每次打開書本時，就必定要在精神上有所追求。彼哈讀經典，因為有目的，所以能夠找到要找的智慧，不致如入寶山空手回。(世界日報，邱鴻安專欄，8.14.2009)
I liken reading to eating. The latter is for nourishment of the body, and the former, the mind. Reading is also like eating in another aspect: the more is not necessarily the better.
Suffice it to say I am a picky reader.
I go about reading in two steps: (1) I choose books based on the authors, the subjects, or reputable recommendations. (2) I will first leaf through the book quickly. If I don't like it (e.g., not fitting my objectives, obsolete points, not good writing, etc.) I will not commit myself to reading it. I have to do so if I am to optimize my time.
As a long time faithful reader of your column, I would like to commend you for both the content and the range of your writing. I whole-heartily support the idea of doing serious reading of classics. As pointed out by PJ Dougherty in his recent article: A Manifesto for Scholarly Publishing, (The Chronicle Review of Higher Education, June 2, 2009): "Democracy needs to know the serious reading of books, long books, hard books. Books with which we have to struggle ... because hard ideas define a culture ..."
However, it is quite arguable whether it is a good idea to promote serious reading of the Harvard Classics, especially for a person brought up in the Chinese culture. I say this because I tried Harvard Classics myself twenty years ago and after considerable time and efforts, I found that I could have spent the time and efforts more wisely. First, not all the books in the Harvard Classics are relevant to a modern reader: the scientific writings, such as the ones on physics, chemistry, geology, surgery, etc., are largely obsolete, even if the purpose of reading them is to share the wonder and excitement of the first discoverers. It would be much easier, and the pictures are more complete, if one reads a modern version. Second, the translations of the old classics, such as Greek tragedies and epics, were so old-fashioned that they are very difficult to read. It would be much easier (and more enjoyable) to read a modern translation such as the ones by Robert Fagles. Third, the choice of material may not be the best for a Chinese scholar: the Harvard Classics were designed basically for American readers. Thus, it starts with Franklin, Woolman, and Penn. In the collection, modern English and American writers occupy more prominent places than continental European works and old classics. Consequently, many important works such as Plato's Republic or Homer's Illiad are left out. Finally, The order of the volumes are presented in a very haphazard manner: for instance, Bacon, Milton, and Emerson precede Aeschylus and Homer. It would be better to read the works in a chronological order since knowledge has been developed as a process: the older writers influence the younger writers.
Chungwu Ho
HoC@alum.mit.edu