中国古代人性论之流变

On the Evolution of Ancient Chinese Theory of Human Nature

人性善恶是哲学思想史非常关注的一个重要问题,中国古代思想家对此十分重视。关于人性善恶问题,不同时代的贤哲有不同的观点和论述。孟子以人有"四端"言人性善,荀子因人好利恶害、贫愿富、贱愿贵而云人性恶,汉唐思想家据善恶之异,将人性分为"三品",宋理学家分先天与后天之人性,言"天命之性善"、"气质之性恶",清儒以"智,人也;不智,禽兽也",竭力张扬人性之善。不同时期的善恶之辩,争辩的目标指向各不相同,善恶内涵也因此发生变化。

Good and evil of the human nature is an important issue very concerned by the history of philosophy,and the ancient Chinese thinkers attached great importance.Questions about good and evil,the sages of different ages have different views and discussions.Mencius regarded human nature is good because of human have ＂four-terminal＂;Xunzi regarded human nature is evil because of people like profit and hate harm,the poor and lowly hope wealth and rank;Han and Tang thinkers divided the human nature into ＂three grades＂ according to the differences between good and evil;The rationalistic Confucian of Song Dynasty distinguished the innate human nature from the acquired human nature,regarded ＂the innate nature is good＂ and ＂the acquired nature is evil＂;Confucianism in Qing Dynasty said ＂wisdom,human;unwise,inhuman＂,and publicized good human nature.Debate of different periods of good and evil argued the target point to vary,thus changing the connotation of good and evil.