性善与伪善——孟荀心性思想比较

Good Nature and Hypocrisy——On the Thoughts of Temperament Between Mencius and Xun Zi

孟子道性善,荀子言性恶伪善,一方面,他们所讲的性不同,孟子是从人之所以为人处讲性,而荀子则是从人的官能欲望处言性,并从官能欲望的流弊言性恶;另一方面,他们所讲的善亦不同,孟子是从成善的能力处说善,认为人皆具有成善的能力而言性善,而荀子则从成善的结果说善,认为人必须通过后天的心的思虑和能动的"伪"才能成善而持伪善论。孟荀二人如此言性、言善,根源在于他们所要解决的问题不同,孟子重在解决成就道德的根基问题,荀子则重在解决道德如何达成的问题。

Mencius stands on theory of good nature and Xun Zi claims that human nature is evil and humanity cannot achieve the good until the process of being artificial. There are differences between them. On the one hand, they talk about the different human nature. Mencius bases on what man is to be man, while Xun Zi thinks the human nature depend on the desires of the senses and then the consequences will lead to evil nature. On the other hand, what good nature they asserted is different. Mencius thinks that any-one has the ability of being good in nature, while Xun Zi based on the results of good in nature, argues that man must go through his efforts to achieve the good. The reasons for their different views originating from different problems they faced. Mencius tries to resolve the fundamental problem of morality, while Xun Zi answeres the way to realize the moral.