试论孔子的自由思想

On Confucius' Theory of Freedom

孔子没有使用"自由"概念,并不等于孔子没有自由思想。对孔子自由思想的探讨,不能简单地套用西方自由主义的"自由"概念,必须从"自由"何以产生以及如何实现的角度,来理解孔子自由思想的真谛。孔子的"自由"思想是孔子在主体意识觉醒基础上,通过不断"学"、"习"、"行"、"思"等活动,达到"为仁由己"乃至"从心所欲不逾矩"之境界。孔子并没有把"自由"预设为人生追求的目标,"自由"是他的一种生活方式,"自由"对孔子而言,是一个不断生成的过程。

Confucius did not use the concept of ＂freedom＂,which does not mean that he had no thought of freedom.Discussing Confucius＇ thought of freedom cannot simply apply the Western liberal ＂free＂ concept.To understand the essence of Confucius＇ thought of freedom must understand how ＂freedom＂ originated and how it can be realized.Confucius＇ thought of freedom is based on subject consciousness awakening,through constant ＂learning＂,＂exercising＂,＂practicing＂,＂thinking＂ to reaching the state of ＂Benevolence depending on oneself＂ and even ＂Do whatever one wishes to do without going beyond the rule＂.＂Freedom＂ is not the life goal of Confucius,but is a way of his life,so for Confucius,＂freedom＂ is a process of constant generation.