《中庸》之“诚”范畴考辨

On Origin of the Theory about Cheng in Zhongyong

孟子以善为性中本有之义讲"诚",开创了论"诚"的源头。《荀子》从多方面规定"诚"的意义,发挥了"诚"是天道的思想;拓展了"诚"则能化的主题;以"诚"作为天地生万物的根据;首先以规律性理解"诚"和天道,以积极的人生观肯定人能参赞天地之化育,这些观念都为《中庸》所吸收。《吕氏春秋》对"诚"的解析发展了精诚感应的思想,也与《中庸》有亲缘关系。《中庸》看起来似乎有一个统一的主题,这一主题也与《荀子》有密不可分的关系。

Meng-tzu initiated the theory of Cheng as Xingshan, Hsun-tzu expanded the meaning of Cheng in many aspects, such as Cheng as Tiandao, Cheng as regularity, Cheng as basis of creation of Tianti, all this is absorbed by Zhongyong. Ideas about Cheng in Lushichunqiu from Hsun-tzu was intimated to Zhongyong. The subject of theory on Cheng in Zhongyong was very close to Hsun-tzu, all these illustrate the part about Cheng in Zhongyong was writed after Hsun-tzu.