中庸:作为普世伦理的考量

Golden Mean: From the Perspective of Universal Ethics

中庸在中西古典伦理思想中占有中心地位。当代伦理致思中对于普世伦理的吁求 ,应当从古典中庸思想中吸取思想资源。中庸作为可能的普世伦理的理由在于 :其一 ,中庸存在于中西古典伦理思想中 ,是一种各大文化传统可以共享的伦理资源。其二 ,中庸具有伦理常识的特性 ;在中西伦理的不同历史演变中 ,中庸成为终结伦理偏执的最佳选择。其三 ,中庸适应各有传统的伦理互动的需求。在普世伦理的建构中 。

The concept of golden mean (GM) has taken a central place in the development of both Chinese and western classical ethics. There is a growing call for universal ethics in contemporary discussions of ethics. It is argued that there are valuable resources to be explored in the classical theory of GM. There are three reasons why GM might attain the status of universal ethics. First, as an ethical resource that can be shared by all cultures, GM has existed in the theorization of classical Chinese and western ethics. Second, GM possesses the characteristics of ethical common sense. In the history of Chinese and western ethics, whenever there is a need to terminate extremism on ethical issues, GM has always served as the best solution. Third, GM suits the need of interaction between different ethical traditions. In theorizing universal ethics, GM serves not only as a moral standard but also a fundamental principle for practice.