孟子与儒家——命与道德自主

Mencius and Confucian: Fate and Moral Autonomy

孟子是儒家学派的重要代表人物,《孟子》是其代表著作。本文试根据《孟子》原文解读孟子"命"的内涵,分析孟子对待命运的态度及对道德自主性的强调,从而阐述孟子对命运与自主之间关系的看法。第一,孟子认为"命"的主要性质与特点是"命"的限制性、"命"的不可知性和"命"的外在性。第二,孟子对待命运的态度是强调不应让道德实践受到命限的影响,应当重视自身的道德自主性。第三,孟子认为不可改变不可预测之命与人的自主性是分立的两个部分,即"求在外"与"求在我";君子能够将"命"之限制作为彰显内在德性的一个契机,即君子能够"见命知义",彰显一种承担精神。

Mencius is a significant representative of Confucian School, author of his masterpiece The Mencius Analects. This article tends to interpret the underlying connotation of ＂fate＂ from the source text of The Mencius Analects and analyzes Mencius＇s attitude towards fate and his emphasis on moral autonomy that helps to elaborate Mencius＇ s perception on the fate-moral autonomy correlation. A conclusion is drawn as follows： Firstly, Mencius regards primary attributions and features of fate as restriction, unpredictable property and externality. Secondly, in his attitude towards fate, he stresses that moral practice shall not be affected by life limits but moral autonomy shall be attached importance to. Thirdly, Mencius＇ main views about the correlation between fate and moral autonomy are that the unchangeable and unpredictable fate and autonomy of mankind are separate parts, namely ＂external demands＂ and ＂internal demands,＂ and that a man of noble character is able to transfer ＂fate＂ limits into turning points to manifest his inner morality and capable of ＂ catching the significance of life at the sight of fate,＂ which demonstrates the daring spirit of assuming responsibilities.