唐君毅、牟宗三、徐复观荀学研究略议——兼论荀子为性朴论者

A Review of the Studies of Xunzi by Tang Junyi,Mou Zongsan and Xu Fuguan: a Discussion of Xunzi Who Held That Human Nature is Simple and Uncarved

唐君毅的荀学研究承接清儒,有比较强的包容性与客观性。他以荀学为儒学重要的一支,没有把它作为异端,并且注意到荀子与孔孟的一致性,但牟宗三和徐复观对荀学的评价却比较低。唐君毅对荀子的人性论有独特的看法:性恶论不是性本恶论;天生之性本来不恶,只是在理想之善的反照下不够善而显得恶。这种看法应该不是《性恶》的看法。历来对荀子人性论的种种说法都立足于《性恶》,但是,它事实上是荀子后学所作。荀子本人持"性朴论",而不持"性恶论"。

Compared with Mou Zongsan and Xu Fugua who downgraded Xunzi＇ s thought, Tang Junyi＇ s study of Xunzi, inherited from Confucians in Qing Dynasty, was more tolerant and objective. Tang noticed the consistency between Xunzi＇ s thoughts and those of Confucius and Mencius and considered the school of Xunzi as an important branch, rather than heterodoxy, of Confucianism. Tang had a unique opinion on Xunzi＇ s doctrine of human nature ： he believed that the doctrine does not mean that human nature is born evil, but means that it is evil only when it is compared by ideal goodness. It should not be the opinion of the chapter of the Xunzi titled Human＇ s Nature is Evil, on which different opinions on Xunzi＇ s doctrine of human nature were based. However, it was actually written by Xunzi＇ s follower. Xunzi himself held that human nature is simple and uncarved, not evil.