君子概念辨难

Distinction between a Gentleman and a Small Man

君子就是善人、好人、合乎道德的人:他可以是最善最好最道德的人,因而可以是具有无私利他人格的人;而不必是最善最好最道德的人,不必是具有无私利他人格的人。一个人的行为不论如何自私利己而罕见无私利他,不论他的行为目的是如何为自己,但是,只要他不损人,只要他是为己利他而不是损人利己,那么,他就是一个合乎道德的人,他就是一个君子而不是小人。即使他损人,即使他损人利己,只要这些不道德的行为还没有使他形成和具有损人利己的品德或人格,那么,他就仍然是君子而不是小人。只有当他损人利己的行为越来越多而终于使他形成和具有了损人利己的品德或人格时,他才是小人而不是君子了。因此,君子显然是品德培养的基本目标,而不是品德培养的最高目标。

A gentleman is one who is kind, good and moral. He might be one that is the kindest, best and with the highest moral value, therefore he might be an unselfish one. He is not necessarily the one that is the kindest, best and with the highest moral value, an unselfish one. A man is a gentleman with social moral value, and not a small man if he is unselfish and does not harm others to benefit himself, no matter what purpose his behavior might be. Even though he benefits him self at the expense of others, he is still a gentleman instead of a small man if his immoral behavior does not equip him with immoral personality. Only when his immoral behavior accelerates to equip him with immoral personality is he a small man instead of a gentleman. Therefore, a gentleman is the fundamental goal in moral cultivation; it is not the ultimate aim.