儒家生态伦理思想反思

Reflection upon the Thought of Confucian Ecological Ethics

面对当代环境污染、生态破坏的全球性问题,很多学者把目光转向了儒家思想,希望从其生态思想中汲取智慧。然而,儒家生态伦理思想是一种天人合一的精神境界,缺乏现实可行性:超然物外,极富情感性、道德性、宗教性;但求天人和谐、讳言天人对立;主张利用自然,但反对探究自然规律;过于理想化,难以为民众所接受。儒家生态伦理思想的这些特质根源于中国古代的自然经济。儒家生态伦理思想在理论上有较大价值,但很难在现实的环保实践中发挥作用。

Many Scholars hope to resolve global environmental problem with the thought of the ecological ethics of Confucianism. Nevertheless, it is a lofty outlook being short of practice for the following reasons. The theory is aloof from worldly things, and is of great sensibility, morality and religion. The theory emphasizes ＂harmony in human and nature＂, but neglects opposition of nature and man. The theory advocates making of nature, but is also against the exploration of the law of nature. The theory is over ideal, lack of feasibility, and it is separated from the practice of the mass. All these characteristics of the thought of the ecological ethics of Confucianism stem from ancient natural economy. The thought is valuable in theory, yet it can not function well in realistic practices of environmental protection.