荀子“性恶”再探析

On Xun-zi's Thought that Human Nature Is Wickedness

“性恶”是荀子的一个重要思想，以往学界大都从“恶”的角度出发来考察和分析荀子之“性恶”，本文则另辟蹊径，从“性”的角度出发来考察和分析荀子之“性恶”，通过对“‘性’训作什么？”、“‘性’指什么？”以及“‘性’怎么样？”这三个问题的回答揭示出荀子“性恶”的实质乃是性“离朴”而恶和性“纵欲”而恶，同时更指出了荀子的“性恶”并不是纯粹的“恶”，而是“性恶”中本具自觉向善的倾向和向善的能力，也就是说，荀子的“性恶”是一种积极的“恶”而不是一种消极的“恶”，正是基于此，所以荀子才说“涂（途）之人可以为禹”。

That human nature is wickedness is an important thought advanced by Xun-zi. The academic circles formerly observed and studied this thought by laying emphasis on the 'wickedness', but this article does the same work by laying emphasis on the 'human nature', bringing to light that the thought of' Human nature is wickedness 'actually means the human nature is away from simplicity and lets desires pass unchecked, and pointing out in the meanwhile that the 'wickedness' originally is provided with tendency and capability to be good, which Xun-zi based on to pose that everyone can be a sage.