从政治正当性视角看儒家“民之父母”思想的内涵及其当代意义

The Connotation of the Confucian Idea of "Parenting People" and Its Contemporary Implication:A Study from Legitimacy perspective

政治正当性要求为政治支配提供服从的内在理据,或对政治秩序提供合理的、道德上的证明。发轫于《诗》《书》中的"民之父母"观念反映了周初政治正当性判断的根据从外在天命向内在德性转化的特征。先秦儒家对"民之父母"观念的内涵进行了各有侧重的关注与追问,并提出了实现"民之父母"的具体的德性修养途径或责任意识。在当代社会,既应发扬"民之父母"观念对动机与责任双重关注的优势,也应对其进行相应的反思。

In terms of legitimacy,political control must be supported by inner consents or moral proof.The concept of min-zhi fu-mu(民之父母,looking after people as parents looking after their children) appeared in The Book of Poetry and The Book of History indicates the transformation of the origin of political legitimacy from mandate of heaven to internal virtue.The pre-Qin Confucians contributed greatly to the interpretation of such a notion and discussed the concrete way of self cultivation and sense of responsibility,which deserves close examination and retrospection.