孟子之后,舜当如何?——读《孟子》“尽心上”篇“窃负而逃”章

What Would Shun Have to Do after Mencius?--Reading the Chapter on“Shun stealthily carried his Father on the Back to Run Away”

如果天子之父犯杀人之罪,天子自己当如何面对?在这一想象出来的伦理困境中,除了让天子舜背着父亲偷偷逃到海边以躲避惩罚,孟子似乎不能为舜找到更好的出路。然而,作为不仅必须为自己父亲负责,而且必须为天下之人负责的天子,舜在孟子为他设计的解决方案中真能安心吗?如果不能,我们今天是否能为舜设想一条更好的出路呢?更好,亦即,更加公正,因为当没有对于每一个人的公正之时,整个社会的基础就会动摇。

If the Son of Heaven Shun's father had committed a crime of killing a man,what would have been the appropriate way for Shun to confront this matter?In this imagined ethical dilemma,Mencius did not seem able to find a better way out for Shun except for allowing the Son of Heaven to stealthily flee with his father on the back to the coast to avoid punishment.However,as the Son of Heaven who must not only be responsible for his father alone but also for all his subjects,would Shun really have been able to find the peace of mind in the decision planned for him by Mencius?If not,are we today able to design a better way out for Shun?Better,meaning more just,because the whole foundation of the society would be shaken when each and every individual is not treated impartially.