徇仁以道与徇道以仁:孟子与荀子对霸者的理念差异

Aiming for Benevolence by Dao and Aiming for Dao by Benevolence The Diference between Mencius and Xunzi on the Idea of Hegemon

王霸之辩是战国期间儒家政治哲学的一个重要话题,它体现了儒家政治理念中如何平衡理想与现实的方式。孟子与荀子除了在人性论方面存在分歧外,在王霸理念上的差异也颇为耐人寻味。部分学者认为孟子“尊王贱霸”,而荀子“尊王而不贱霸”。其实,孟子与荀子所阐述的“霸”从起点上就不在同一层次,荀子的“霸”并没有会盟的硬性要求;孟子与荀子关于“霸”的分歧根本在乎“行仁”的方法及目的,以及“仁”与“先王之道”的先后顺序差异,而这也实质导致了孟子与荀子的学说走向了截然不同的方向。

The debate on king and hegemon is an important topie for Confucian political philosophy in the period of the Waring States,revealing the way to balance the political ideal and the political reality in Confucianist idea.Except for Mencius and Xunzi's discrepancy on the idea of human nature,their difrerence on the idea of king and hegemon is also an atactive topie.Some scholars hold that Mencius"respects the king and despises the hegemon",while Xunzi"respects the king but not depises the hegemon".But based on the discuss ion of this paper,the idea of hegemon from Mencius and Xunzi does not share the same connotation,as for Xunzi the hegemon needs not hold the meeting for alliance in the name of the ruler of Zhou.The basic diference between Mencius and Xunzi on the idea of hegemon comes from the aim and approach of practicing benevolence,and the procedural divergence of practicing benevolence and the way of former kings.leading to very different targets for Menceius'and Xunz's doctrines.