简析孟子仁政思想的实质

The Essence of Mencius's Ideas on the Benevolent Government

有论者认为,孟子仁政思想的出发点和归结点是一切为人民而政治,统治者的利益从属于人民利益之下,是君服侍民。本文不同意这种观点。孟子提倡实行仁政,其目的就是为了君王能够保有自己的国家,巩固自己的统治。他提出要让民有基本生存的条件,能够活下去,首先要让民有足够的土地可以耕作。其仁政措施主要体现在征税政策上;但他明确表示,减轻人民的经济负担是有限度的,这个限度就是统治者的根本利益要得到保证。孟子认为,亲亲是比仁民更高层次的关系和原则。当两者冲突时,仁民让位于亲亲。从深入的分析可以看出,孟子所反对的诸侯间为争夺土地而进行的战争,与他所倡导的仁政并不一定是对立和矛盾的,其目的都是维护统治者自身的利益。

Some scholars claim that Mencius＇ s idea of a benevolent government is the idea of a government for the people, where the ruler＇ s interest is subject to the people＇ s interest, where the sovereign serves the people. This article will argue against such a view. Mencius＇ s idea of a benevolent government was only to strengthen the sovereign＇ s control of his nation and the power of his rule. He suggested that people be provided with living essence most importantly a piece of land to farm on. His benevolent policies were mostly about taxation. Nonetheless, he stated clearly that the limit in lessening people＇ s economic burden could not go far beyond the limit to affect the interest of the ruler. Mencius thought fraternity and trust of one＇ s intimates was a more important principle than benevolence, and when these two conflicted, the former should maintain a dominant position. Probing deeper into the case, we can find that it is not a paradox for Mencius to oppose the war for lands between states on one hand and advocate benevolent government at the same time, for both serve for the interest of the sovereign.