试析先秦儒家对礼的合法性基础的重构

Pre-Qin’s Confucianism Reconstructing Legitimacy Foundation on the Rite

孔子从本质论出发,把仁作为礼的合法性基础,认为仁是人的本质,礼是仁的表象,试图解决礼的自觉性问题,突出礼的道德属性。孟子从生成论出发,把心作为礼的合法性基础,认为礼是心的扩充,试图解决礼的知行问题,突出礼的主动性。荀子从目的论出发,把善作为礼的合法性基础,礼既是实现善的手段,也是最高的善,他试图解决礼的权威性和强制性问题,突出礼是一种等级原则。

Proceeding from essential theory, Confucius regards benevolence as the legitimacy foundation of the rite, he thinks that benevolence is the people’s essence, the rite is the representation of the benevolence, he attempts to solve the consciousness problem of the rite, he stresses the morals of the rite. Setting out from the theory of producing, Mencius regards heart as the legitimacy foundation of the rite, he thinks that the rite is the expansion of the heart, he attempts to solve the knowing and doing problem of the rite, he stresses the initiative of the rite. proceeding from teleology, Xunzi regards good as the legitimacy foundation of the rite, the rite since kind means that realize good, it is the highest good too, he attempts to solve the authoritativeness of the rite and mandatory problem, he stresses that the rite is a kind of grade principle.