传统家族组织中的伦理精神

Ethical Spirit of the Traditional Family

传统时代的家族伦理精神可以归结为“仁”与“孝”。值得注意的是,明清家族虽然也倡导“仁”与“孝”,但重心发生转移,对“孝”的强调更甚于重“仁”。为了维护家族的稳定与和睦,历代士大夫们还建立与家族伦理相匹配的制度保障,它包括血缘凝聚制度、道德规范制度、生活保障制度等三个方面。传统的家族伦理精神既有符合人性的相互关爱和对长辈的尊敬,这有利于社会的和谐稳定发展,也有为了适应专制政体而制定的违背人类本性的各种道德规范,如等级森严的“三纲六纪”,这些需要我们加以批判地吸收。

The ethical spirit of families in the traditional eras can be boiled down.to ＂benevolence＂ and ＂filial piety＂. What merits notice is that, though the family advocated ＂benevolence＂ and ＂filial piety＂ in the Ming and Qing dynasties, the focus of attention was shifted, more emphasis placed on ＂filial piety than on＂ benevolence. In order to maintain stability and ensure harmony of the family, court officials in the past dynasties even established a system that was in conformity with familial ethics. This system includes the rules concerning cohesion of blood relations, the code of ethics, living security, etc. The traditional family ethical spirit contains care for each other and respect for elders that accord with human nature, which contributes to the harmoni- ous and steady development of society. But it also includes various codes of ethical standards against human nature that were formulated to meet the needs of the tyrannical rule. Such ethical standards are to be absorbed critically.