试论“民”在孟子仁政学说中的地位

The Position of “People” in Mencius Benevolent Theory

孟子主张实行"仁政",并要求统治者给予"民"以政治、经济、文化教育等方面的有限权利,这种以"民为贵"思想是否意味着孟子将"民"的地位置于君主之上呢?通过分析孟子"仁政"主张的具体措施及其终极目的发现,"民"只是在国家中具有基础性地位,而并非在国家政治权利结构中居于主体性地位。

Mencius advocated ＂ benevolence＂ , and asked the ruler to give ＂ people＂, though limitedly,political rights,economic rights, cultural and educational rights. The question is whether the idea, ＂people being the most important＂ indicates that Mencius believed that ＂people＂ are superior to the ruler. However, the analysis of his ＂ benevolence＂ theory shows that ＂people＂ are the foundation of the nation but not the main body in the political power structure.