试论孔子的自强观

On Confucius' Idea of Self-striving to Become Stronger

明"志"、体"道"和知"命"是孔子自强观的主要内容。"志",说到底是一种自我控制或抉择以及自我发展和完善的能力。体"道"有赖于自强,自强落实于体"道"。孔子说"知命",并非是主张命定主义,并非是要人放弃自我。"知命"的实质是认识自我,即认清自己的所有极限。

Confucius' idea of self-striving to become stronger mainly consists of such three aspects as being aware of one's ambition, being conscious of the virtue and knowing one's own fate. Ambition fundamentally means a self-controlling self-deciding and self-improving ability. Being conscious of the virtue depends on the practice of self-striving to become stronger, and the latter is reflected by the former. Confucius' knowing one's fate doesn't really mean to be predestined or to give up one's ego. The nature of knowing one's fate is the perception of one's ego, or the realization of one's own limits.