乾嘉思想的伦理新向度——以阮元、凌廷堪为中心的解读

New Ethical Dimensions in Thoughts of the Qianjia School

从伦理反思的视角来看,乾嘉学者从四个方面对传统伦理学特别是宋明理学的道德哲学作了新的拓展:首先,通过批判理学的本体论的德性伦理学,将道德根源建立在生活形式所凝结的礼之上;其次,主张自然人性论,提出节性说,反对以先验性善为基础的复性说;第三,主张道德评价的标准放在外在的行为规范上,注重行为的后果;第四,不以"成圣"而以守礼为道德修养的终极目标。乾嘉思想的伦理向度是理解中国现代性发生的不可缺少的一环。

In the perspective of moral philosophy, traditional ethics, especially Neo-Confucian, was criticized and expanded by the Qianjia School from four aspects. Firstly, instead of basing virtues on an ontological foundation of principle, the Qianjia School argued that the source of morality was rooted in the rite. Then the Qianjia School protested a naturalistic view of human nature opposing to the Neo-Confucian transcendental humanity. Thirdly, morality was evaluated by behaviors and affections not as to motivations. In the end, the ideal moral personality was not still a sage but an ordinary person who abided rites. The point view of the Qianjia School ethics is indispensable to explain the occurrence of Chinese modernity.