《荀子》“礼治论”的思想特质暨历史定位

Meanings and Historical Significance of Xunzi's Political Philosophy of Rituals and Social Norm

为了阐述荀子政治哲学的整体内容及其历史意义的目标下,探讨如下四项问题:一、整理过去"礼"思想的研究脉络,思考它为何与荀子"礼"思想一直无法一起讨论。二、简述笔者在前书《荀子礼治政治思想之研究》中,如何探讨此项问题。三、提出能显现《荀子》"礼"思想的思想特质和历史角色的分析架构:即以"礼论"、"礼制论"以及"礼治论"来区分广阔的"礼"思想进而分析的观点。四、阐述《荀子》"礼治论"的若干思想特色。据于此,本文试图论证:荀子礼治论是具备超过"一王朝"、"一国家"之框架的视野,能涵盖整个人类社会的历史与生存方式之政治哲学。

This article aims to elucidate the historical significance of Xunzi＇s political philosophy, especially concerning his synthesis of preceding various discourses on the concept of li （rituals and social norm） in embodying ideal political institution based on ethical principle. Based upon a reviewing work on the past relevant researches as well as my own, I try to divide the discourse on li into three categories： （1） Interpretative Discourse on Li; （2） Evaluative Discourse on Li as socio-political institution; and （3） Analytical Discourse on Li as a foundation for establishing an order of the human society. By means of focusing the third aspect, Xunzi＇s discourse on li turns to appear as a political philosophy for providing a framework to establish an ideal society of all the human beings, the perspective of which would go beyond the scope of one country or one dynasty.