良知与正义:中国自然法的构建

Conscience and Justice:The Construction of Natural Law in China

西方自然法或自然秩序理论以理性的普遍和内在论述奠定了个体平等和内在惩戒的原则。王阳明将孟子的良知内在说提升到天理的层面构成内在而普遍的道德理性。良知在孟子那里最高的构成法则是成为"天民",从而确定了个体超越现实世俗价值的更高价值,王阳明既把它提升到"知天"层面又使它回归到个体,达成一切平等的内在可能性。儒家以"德"奠定人的先验平等,以"才"判定人的现实职业分途。个体良知的裁决具有个体性和普遍性的特征,但不是确定的普遍含义,只有公众良知的汇合、外显凝成公共理性才是天道的彰显,它的机制化则是公共理性的体现。

In the Western natural law or theory of natural order,the individual's equality and inner restraints are based on the theory of universal reason which lies in everyone itself.The concept of conscience was elevated into a sphere of 'the principle of heaven' and transcended secular values,which was developed by Wang Yangming to make individuals to be people of the universe,so everyone's equality was made.Confucianism convinced that a person's equality was derived from his born virtue.Only the confluence of individuals' conscience will lead to public reason and embody 'the Way of heaven'.