论先秦儒家性命思想的演进

On the Development of Confucianism before Qin Dynasty

作为一种对人的价值的思考,先秦儒家性命思想所探讨的核心是道德问题。道德的根源、内容以及完成道德的最终决定者是这个问题紧密联系的三个方面。性与命是思考的两极:命代表着外在与一,性则接近内在与众。西周性命思想以天命的形式将人的价值建立在道德之中。后来的思考者致力于将天命与人性融合,这一努力有两条思路:一路以《中庸》、《易传》为代表,倾向于以天命融合人性;另一路以《论语》、《孟子》为代表,更倾向于以人性融合天命。把道德从天命安放于人性的努力被荀子推进了一步,其"天人相分"说将道德归于人为。但他在把道德由天归于人的同时,又把它归于圣人,如此则道德内于一而非内于众,结果其圣人虽无天之名却有主宰之实,反而跌向了法家的专制。这种由外至内、由一至众的艰难推进及反复构成了先秦儒家性命思想演进的主线。

As the thinking on the value of human beings, the core of Confucianism is morality. This core is related with two aspects, Xing and Ming. Ming represents externality and one, while Xing represents internality and multitude. It is the spiral development from the externality and multitude to internality and one that forms the main line of Confucianism before Qin Dynasty.