关于德性与德行的一种思考

A Differentiation of Virtue and Morality

在中西方伦理思想中,德性与德行是一对既有联系又有区别的重要概念。然而,自古以来中西方伦理学界对德性与德行的具体使用及其相互关系的理解却始终存在着很大的差异。西方传统伦理学家们一般用"德性"这个概念,到了亚里士多德那里才出现了"理智德性"和"道德德性"等说法。而中国传统伦理学家们一般则用"德"这个概念,但也出现了"德性"和"德行"等说法并存的现象。名词术语上的这种差别不是没有原因的,它集中体现着中西方伦理思维方式的根本性问题。在西方传统伦理学家的逻辑里面,"德性"(理智德性)是人及其实现活动的终极目的本身,"德行"(道德德性)则只是完成这种人及其实现活动的一种过程和手段而已。在中国传统伦理学家的逻辑里面,"德"或"德性"(理智德性)只是人及其实现活动的一种过程或手段;而"德行"(道德德性)才是人及其实现活动的目的本身。一个人只知道"德性"不等于他有道德;同样,一个人也不是先成为道德的人然后再去做有"德行"的活动。"德性"是人的内在品质;而"德行"则是人的外在品行。内在品质要通过外在品行来表现;外在品行是内在品质的影像。因此,人们获得德性与德行的具体途径是不同的。我们只有在理论上弄清楚德性与德行的联系及区别,才能够充分认识和找到获得德性与德行的具体途径。

Virtue and morality are a pair of important concepts that are related but also differ both in East and West ethical ideology. However, there is a big difference in their practical uses and interrelations. The traditional Western ethicists general tend to use the term ＂virtue＂; and only up till Aristotle does there appear ＂reason virtue＂ and ＂moral virtue＂. But the traditional Chinese scholars adopts ＂de＂ （moral character）, even though there are also such terms as ＂de xing＂ （virtue nature） and ＂virtue behavior＂ that co-exist. The terminological difference does not mean that there is no reason. In fact, they represent essential difference in the East and in the West. For the Westerners, reason virtue is the ultimate goal itself of human beings and their activities, and moral virtue is only a process or means to complete or attain that goal. But for the Easters, they go to the opposite. A man who only knows virtue does not mean that he is moral; likewise, a man could not be a moral man before he practices virtual deeds. Moral virtue is the inner quality of man; but virtual deeds are the outer behaviors. The inner requires the outer to represent, and the outer is the image of the inner quality. Therefore, the ways people achieve virtue and moral deeds vary. We could fully understand virtue and morality and find out the way to reach them only when we make them clear in theory.