“道”、“德”与“道德”

Taoism","Virtue" and "Morality

分三个层面对“道德”范畴的形成及其内涵进行了历史考察 ,认为是道家老子最先将“道”升华为哲学范畴 ,认为“德”作为政治伦理范畴 ,形成于西周 ,较“道”为早。“道德”连用虽散见于先秦典籍 ,但作为哲学范畴 ,当确定于《庄子》。而《老子》之“尊道贵德”、《论语》之“志于道 ,据于德”、《中庸》之“苟不至德 ,至道不凝焉”等论题 ,都是“道德”范畴的先声。

A historical investigation is made from three levels on the form and content of the scope of 'morality'. The following conclusions are made: Laozi was the first person to lift'morality'into a philosophical concept;'virtue'as a political and ethical concept, appeared around West Zhou Dynasty, earlier than Taoism';'morality', the combination of the two words, as a philosophical concept, should have first appeared in Zhuangzi; and there had been earlier commentaries on'morality' in such Chinese classical works as Laozi, The Analects of Confucius, and The Doctrine of the Mean.