荀子礼为人之本质论

On Xunzi's Idea of Ritual as the Essence of Man

荀子认为礼是人的本质。具体言之,礼是人、物分别的根据,是划分圣人、君子与小人的原则,甚至是重构社会等级的标准。但是,荀子的人之本质论与其人性论根本对立,使其礼为人之本质的证明缺乏内在依据。

Xunzi believes that ritual is the essence of man. Specifically, ritual is the ground for distinction between human and object, the principle for distinction between sage, noble man, and less man, and even the standard for the reconstruction of social classes. But there is a fundamental contradiction between Xunzi＇s idea of human essence and his view of human nature, which undermines the support to the argument of his belief that ritual is the essence of man.