孟子“性善论”的价值意蕴及其对社会治理的意义

Value Meaning of Mencius' “Theory of Xing-Shan” and Its Significance for Social Governance

孟子"性善论"对人性所作的善的判定是一种"价值事实"认定,其理论是一种未区分价值与事实、形而上与形而下的特殊类型的价值理论,或者说是一种价值范导性质的事实存在理论。这可以从"性善论"所明确指出的"诚者天之道"这一本体论判断、所认定的"人的心中天然存在着善的要求"这种价值实质、所隐含的"思善为善"是人的价值职责等方面得到证明。孟子之所以认为人心的四个维度是善的,是因为他洞见到了人是家庭、邻里、国家、天下等各种共同体中的社会共存者这一深刻事实,体悟到了社会共存这一基本价值对于人们行为的本质要求,包括在恻隐之心维度上人际相互关爱、在羞恶之心维度上对人们共存情感的理性引导、在辞让之心维度上人们的交往和谐、在是非之心维度上人们社会合作的理性判断等。在人性善的实现路径方面,孟子的"性善论"的确强调从个体修身出发进而达到齐家、治国、平天下,同时也包含着反向的即从后三个方面看个体修身的价值视野。孟子性善论的价值意蕴,在根本方法论、人学价值取向、安身立命归依、社会秩序建构、目标实现之用等方面,对于社会治理特别是建构理想的社会共同体、激发全体社会成员主动向善的巨大潜能、自觉实现道德成长和共同福祉,具有极其重要的现实指引意义。

In Mencius＇ theory of human nature,that human nature is good is one judgment about the value-fact. His theory of ＂xing shan＂is one particular type of value theory which had not distinguished value from fact,metaphysics from physics,or one theory of fact-being with the nature of value guiding. This point can be demonstrated by the ontological judgment of ＂sincerity is the law of Haven＂,that the value essence of ＂there is natural requirement of good in the mind of every human being ＂,and that ＂thinking and practicing good is the value duty of every person ＂,respectively pointed,affirmed,and implied in Mencius＇ theory. Why Mencius believed that the ＂si duan＂of mind is good,because he had gained an insight into the deep fact that people are social co-beings in various communities including family,neighborhood,country and world,and comprehended the requirements of basic value of social cobeing for people＇s actions,including on the dimension of the feeling of commiseration,interpersonal loving and caring;in the sense of shame or disgust,guiding the feelings in co-being of people by reason; in the sense of reverence and respect,the harmony of people＇s communications; and in the idea of right and wrong,rational judgment in people＇s social cooperation,etc.. In the way of realizing the good of human nature,Mencius＇ theory of ＂xing shan stresses indeed that to begin from cultivating oneself,then to develop towards putting family in order,running the country well,and bringing peace to the world,however,it also has an opposite value vision,that is,observing the cultivating oneself from the angle of latter three aspects. The value meaning of Mencius＇ theory of ＂xing shan＂has an extremely important realistic significance for governing a society,especially for constructing an ideal social community,inspiring the great potentialities of all the social members doing good initiatively,and realizing consciously their moral growth and common well-being,in fundamental methodology,value orientation of humanology,people＇s lifelong pursuit,the building of social order,and the use for realizing various objectives.