儒家责己与责人的道德要求

The Moral Requirements of Confucian Self-criticism and Criticism

儒家很早就提出了责己的要求。孔子认为,严己宽人,对自己要求严格,对别人宽容大度,这样的人才能够远离怨恨!责己的前提是不断自省。君子总慎重对待别人的过失,不轻易揭别人的伤疤。但在儒家,出于善良动机的批评与指责将有利于别人改正错误。对待别人,应该尽量在其所犯的错误中发现优点和长处;而对待自己,则应该努力在取得的成绩中寻找缺点与不足。君子责人应该讲究方式方法。为恳求对方改过向善,君子总能够友爱地进行批评与指正,而绝不走到刻薄而让人伤心、怨恨的地步。引导人向善,也应该因材施教,有所针对,而不能要求过高。儒家还提倡一种不责而责、无言而劝人进善的美德。

Confucianism has long required people to criticize themselves. Confucius believes that only those who are hard on themselves, but lenient on others can stay away from hatred. The precondition of self- criticism is continuous introspection. A gentleman is always careful in dealing with other people＇s errors, and not to rub salt into their woods. Confucianism, however, also believes that kind criticism and reprehension help others correct their mistakes. When it comes to other people, one should try to see their strengths and merits when they commit errors; when it comes to oneself, however, one should try to find out their own Shortcomings and deficiencies when accomplishing something. A gentleman criticizes in an appropriate way. In order to help others do the right thing, a gentleman should kindly criticize the wrong-doers without hurting their feelings or causing bitterness and hatred. When helping others, different approaches should be taken for different people, and one shouldn＇t expect too much of the person being helped. Confucianism also advocates the virtue of criticizing others without actual criticism and helping others to do good without uttering the words.