儒家的伦理思考方式——以《孟子》与生命相关的例子为据的讨论

Methods of thinking of Confucian ethics——discussion on the basis of life-related examples in Mencius

以《孟子》中几个与生命相关的例子为根据,对儒家伦理思考问题进行讨论:首先,由"礼"(经)与"权"之辨/辩看儒家的原则与情境之思;其次,由"生"与"义"之辨/辩看儒家的超越道德观;再者,由"尔爱其羊,我爱其礼"、"见牛未见羊"看儒家的禽兽对待伦理;由此试图找出儒家的伦理思维逻辑。分析认为,儒家伦理也有类似西方哲学的原则性思考;儒家可得出一个基本伦理原则:"义"高于"人命","人命"高于"礼","礼"高于"禽兽之命";儒家并不关注禽兽之命的高下区分,禽兽与人之间的合理关系才是合宜对待的重点;只有"人"之存有,我必须以诚敬、真情实感面对他们;这就是"仁者,人也"、"仁也者,人也"的真义,也是儒家伦理的基本思考。

On the basis of some life-related examples in Mencius,this paper discusses questions of Confucian ethical thinking： firstly,to observe Confucian principles and thinking under certain situation by distinguishing between ＂the ritual＂（ Confucian classics） and ＂changeability＂; secondly,to observe the transcendence of Confucian ethics by distinguishing between ＂life＂and ＂righteousness＂; moreover,to observe Confucian ethics in treatment of animals by ＂You（ ZI Gong） love the sheep,but I（ Confucian）prefer the ritual（ a story to show Confucian attaching importance to the ritual） and ＂seeing the cattle but not sheep（ a story to show Mencius＇ ethics） ＂. It tries to find out the logic of Confucian ethical thinking.According to the analysis,it proves that there is a similar principle thinking between Confucian ethics and western philosophy; and a basic ethical principles can be concluded in Confucian： ＂righteousness＂is above ＂human＇s lives＂,＂human＇s lives＂is above ＂the ritual＂,and ＂the ritual ＂is above ＂animals＇ lives＂; Confucianism don＇t focus on the status of animals＇ lives,but the reasonable relationship between animals and people,which is the focus of the appropriate treatment; only the entities of ＂person＂exist,we must face them with sincere and true feelings. This is the true meaning of ＂Being benevolent distinguishes men from animals＂,which is also fundamental Confucian ethics thinking.