孟子对孔子仁学的捍卫与发扬

Mencius' safeguarding and Developing Confucius' Doctrine of Benevolence

战国中期,诸侯兼并战争剧烈,百家争鸣,杨、墨的学说充满天下,孔子的学说不大流行,仁义的道路阻塞。孟子挺身而出,以孔子的继承者自居,延续儒家道统,捍卫和发扬孔子的仁学。这种捍卫和发扬的工作,主要贯穿于其游说诸侯、参与政治、参与百家争鸣及教学活动中。通过这类捍卫和发扬的实践活动,孟子在许多重要方面继承和发展了孔子的仁学思想,其“仁义”学说和“仁政”思想的提出和推广,开启了仁学的新领域、新范畴,意义重大,影响深远。两千多年来,孔子仁学思想之所以能够不断发扬光大,影响及于全世界,与当年孟子所作出的这类卓越贡献是分不开的。

In the middle of the Warring States period,all the vassals were busying at war,while a hundred schools of thought were contending.At that time,the doctrine of Yang and Mo were very popular,while Confucius' doctrine was not.The way of advocating benevolence and righteousness was blocked.Mencius came out boldly,claiming to be successor of Confucius,to safeguard and develop Confucianism.His efforts ran through his canvassing in order to advise vassals to participate in politics,through the contending of schools of thought,and through teaching activities.By this way,Menscius inherited and developed Confucius' doctrine of benevolence in many aspects.He brought forward and spread the doctrine of 'benevolence and righteousness' and the thought of 'benevolent administration',which opened up a new field and new domain for the doctrine of benevolence.No one could deny Mencius' outstanding contribution to Confucianism,that's why Confucius' doctrine of benevolence,for more than two thousand years,could be continuously carried forward and had a significant influence in the world.