自然与中国古代道德纲领

Naturalness and the Creed of Ancient Chinese Morality

以儒释道三家为主体构成的中国哲学均追求自然。道家倡导道法自然与无为,顺其自然是其道德主旨。儒家强调依仁义行、人心顺于道心、由心自然知仁义孝礼,顺德性而为即成人之正道。佛教双遣有无,以为中道,由无心于物,进而无作,顺其自然,终至涅槃人生。从儒释道三家来看,自然或顺其自然便成为中国古代道德哲学的共同纲领。

Naturalness is the common pursuit of Chinese philosophy constituted by Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. Taoism advocates naturalness and freedom from artificialness. Following naturalness is its ultimate goal of morality. Confucianism stresses acting in accordance with benevolence and righteousness, claims that human consciousness should be subject to the Mind of Tao, contends that being natural in mind leads to benevolence, righteousness, filial piety and propriety, and proposes that following morality is the right way of human life. Buddhism criticizes both existence and non-existence, and favours the middle course, suggesting that acting naturally without any deliberate consideration on conducts will lead a person to the state of peace and happiness. In the light of these three schools of thought, we may conclude that being natural or following naturalness is the common creed of ancient Chinese moral philosophy.