孟子的民本思想及其现代意义

Mencius's Humanist Thoughts and Its Modern Significance

以孟子为代表的民本思想是中国传统政治文化中最具进步性的永恒主题。孟子的民本思想以“性善论”为哲学基础,提出了“民贵君轻”、“制民之产”、“薄税敛”、“国君进贤”等基本理念。孟子民本思想为我们展现了近现代民主的原初观念形态,为我们提供了探索民主政治的思路。汲取其中积极有益的思想精髓,并将其与我国现代社会的国情相结合,将会对我们产生深刻的启迪。

Humanism represented by Mencius is the eternal ideological theme which has been progressive in Chinese traditional politics and culture. That the human nature is virtuous is the philosophical foundation. Mencius brought forth many theories, such as priority of subjects＇ interests, being happy with people, giving the soil to people, reducing the tax. The humanist thoughts provided the method of exploring democratic politics, and it is very worthwhile to absorb them to guide our contemporay society.