儒家视野中人与动物的关系与启示

The Analysis and Enlightenment of the Human-Animal Relationship from the Perspective of Confucianism

儒家在考察人与动物的关系时,从天人合一的哲学出发,避免了西方哲学把人与动物视为对立两极的思维方式,从而避免了在人与动物关系问题上的诸多悖论。从天人合一的哲学思想,先秦儒家提出对动物要杀伐以时,解决了仁爱动物前提下利用动物的方法问题,而宋明儒家则把"天人合一"的哲学理念推进到一个新的境界,由此提出处理人与动物关系的一体仁心思想,解决了仁爱动物前提下利用动物的合理性问题。儒家哲学告诉人们:只要掌握好利用动物的必要限度,爱护动物和利用动物是可以并行不悖的。

Confucian approach to the human - animal relationship from the philosophical thinking of ＂harmony between human and nature＂, disregards the Western thinking which treats people and animals as opposite poles, thus avoids many paradoxes in the issue of the human - animal relationship. From the idea of ＂ harmony between human and nature＂, the Pre - Qin Confucianism raised the viewpoint of killing animals in right seasons and appropriate time, and solved the methodological issues of using aninals under the premise of loving them. Furthermore, Song -Ming Confucianism put the ideology of ＂harmony between human and nature＂ to a new realm, proposed the thought of unity and benevolence in dealing with animals, and thereby solved the problem of rational use of animals under the premise of loving them. Confucianism tells us that loving animal and using animal can be in line with each other, as long as we have a good control of the limits of using animals.