基于制度运行机制为视角的荀子制度伦理思想探析

An examination on Xunzi's institutional ethics from the perspective of the system operating mechanism

制度是人类社会实践的产物,伴随制度的产生就有了制度伦理的存在。中国传统的制度伦理在先秦时期表现出不同的思想脉络与特质。荀子由性恶论出发最终落脚于社会的政治控制及制度安排上,荀子性恶论是其制度运行机制设计的理论基石。"义"作为荀子思想体系中的核心价值观念是其礼、法制度设计与运行的伦理价值导向。荀子隆礼重法的制度运行机制化约为礼的社会组织功能、法的人群整治效用、礼法的双重控制目标等三个问题。荀子设计了以性恶论为理论基石、以贵义为价值诉求、以隆礼重法为最高准则的制度运行机制,彰显了对制度伦理与德性伦理双重价值诉求。作为儒家的荀子对德性伦理的过分强调使得荀子最终以义统礼法,表征了德性伦理相对于制度伦理的优先性,这种重德性轻制度的思想理路,使得客观化制度付诸阙如,对中国后世社会政治思想和伦理理念产生了深远影响。

System is a product of human social practice and then the ethical system exists.Chinese traditional system of ethics in the pre-Qin period showed different context and characteristics of ideas.From the evil nature of humans,Xunzi finally settled in the community,political control and the institutional arrangements.The evil nature of humans was his theory cornerstone of the mechanism design.＂Righteousness＂ as the ideology of Xunzi＇s core values was its propriety,law system design and operation of the ethical value orientation.Xunzi＇s operating mechanism of the system was about three problems： ritual function of social organization,law of regulation effectiveness of the crowd,and dual control law targets of courtesy and law.Xunzi designed the system operation mechanism,which was based on the evil nature of humans,appealing to justice and the supreme criterion of the system of law and ceremony.It highlighted the double value of ethics and virtue ethics demands.As a Confucian,Xunzi emphasized on virtue ethics and ultimately used justice to integrate the law and ceremony,which showed the system virtue ethics prior to ethics.The idea of attaching importance to system but despising ethics led to the absence of objective system in Chinese history.It produced far-reaching implications on Chinese subsequent social and political thought and ethical concepts.