差等与平等:儒家“仁爱”与墨家“兼爱”之比较

Grade and Equality:A Comparison of Confucianism and Mohist Love

儒家和墨家都主张爱人,儒家主张"仁爱",墨家主张"兼爱",二者有着质的不同。儒家"仁爱"强调"差等",而墨家"兼爱"则强调"平等"。"差等"说顺遂人之常情,切合以家族为本位的血缘宗法制社会的实际,也利于封建大一统社会的父权、君权统治,因而逐渐被一般民众所接受,也为封建统治阶级所认同和尊崇;而"平等"说不合人之常情,不切合以家族为本位的血缘宗法制社会的实际,也不利于封建大一统社会的父权、君权统治,因而难以见容于后世。"差等"和"平等"这两种不同学说在一定程度上影响了儒、墨整个伦理学说的历史命运。

Though both advocating love, Confucianism preaches for graded humane love whereas the Mohi- sts advocate universal love on an equal basis. Graded humane love based on the blood ties of the patriarchal clan system conforms to the needs of the emotion of the people, and also complies with the actual social conditions of the time and the demands of the rulers. However, universal love is opposite to this. This es- sential distinction determines in a historical sense that Confucianism would rise and Mohism would decline in feudal society.