“以才论性”与“因情定性”——孟子性善论之致思理路

The Trend of Thought in Mencius’ Theory of Original Goodness of Human Nature

孟子论性,实乃据才以为言的。故其性善论之主要致思理路为“以才论性”和“因情定性”也;相应地,恶的产生乃因“不尽其才”所致,且作为道德修养的“集义”与“养气”实皆为“尽其才”之过程。

Mencius probes into human nature on the basis of one’s talents. So his theory of original goodness of human nature focuses on “the exploration of human nature according to the talents” and “judging human nature by the feeling”. According to him, evil results from the insufficient cultivation of one’s talents; and the various ways of moral cultivation, such as the assembling of justice and the cultivation of spirit, are actually the process of cultivating one’s talents.