论孟子的心性说及其现代意义

Mencius' Doctrine of Human Nature and Its Modern Significance

性善说是孟子心性理论的基础或理论前提,从这一前提出发,孟子不仅提出了理想人格的具体范式,而且进一步探讨了实现这一理想人格的现实途径。孟子的心性理论特别是人格范式思想虽有极大的理论偏颇和消极作用,但对民族精神和民族心理也产生过积极的影响。孟子心性理论对于道德之于人的尊严之意义的强调,对于当代人走出文化困境并重新确立心性与德性方面的理想,有重要而深远的启迪意义。

Starting from his theoretical presupposition of goodness of human nature, Mencius takes the way of completing a man, that is, how to be a a man or how to cultivate an ideal personality, as his theoretical mission, putting forth some specific patterns of ideal personality and their ways of realization. Mencius ' doctrine of human nature, especially his thought of personality pattern, has considerable theoretical deviations and negative roles, but also has a positive effect on the development of national spirit. Mencius' stress on moral significance of human dignity is of importance and far-reaching enlightenment to contemporary human beings who strive to be out of their cultural predicament and reestablish their ideals of nature and virtue.