从荀子的天人观看先秦儒家天人关系的衍化

Xun Zi's Viewpoints on Destiny and Mankind v.s the Derivatives of Confucianism during Pre-Qin Period

"天人之辩"是先秦时期讨论的重要问题。孔孟荀虽同属儒家,但他们对"天人之辩"的不同解答,正体现了哲学的发展。孔子"天人之辩"中对天的理解有自然之天、主宰之天等多重含义,主张人要顺天命;孟子主张人通过"尽心"、"知性"过程,最终达到"知天"、"事天"的境界,使得儒家哲学走向了唯心主义;荀子站在儒家的立场上,吸收了《老子》、《管子》的思想,把天人关系放在了天人相分、人能够制天命而用之的立场上,克服了孔子、孟子思想的弊端,在巩固儒家的理性精神的同时,将儒家天人关系推向了朴素唯物主义的新阶段。

＂The relations between destiny and mankind＂ was an important issue argued in Pre-Qin Period. Although Confucius, Mencius and Xun Zi belong to the same school, they had different viewpoints on the argument, which show how the philosophy in China has developed. Confucius proposed that destiny was naturally existed. As it controlled mankind, the latter should be obedient; while Mencius argued＂man can finally know what destiny is＇and ＂serve it＂ by＂fulfilling one＇s obligations with heart and soul＂ and＂understanding the nature of mankind＂. Meneius＇ ideas had led the philosophy into a stage of idealism. Xun Zi, who absorbed the views in Lao Zi and Guan Zi, believed man could compete with destiny and finally defeated it. His thoughts had overcome Confucius＇ and Meneius＇ drawbacks, and meanwhile consolidated the rational spirit of Confucianism. He forwarded the argument to a new stage of native materialism.