西汉“天人感应”思想的伦理意蕴

The Ethical Implication of the Thought “Correspondence between Heaven and Human” in the Western Han Dynasty

西汉时期的天人感应思想认为"天"是人的根源,天、人是同类,可以互动;"天"有意志、有人格,能赏善罚恶;"天"有道德理性,是人道的依据。这一思想包含浓厚的伦理意蕴:首先,培养人们对天地、自然的敬畏和感恩之情,为我们构建人与自然的和谐关系提供了重要的启示;其次,根据天道确立国君的道德准则和行为规范:国君需效法"天"的"溥爱无私,布德施仁",并通过爱民、利民来体现尊天,使封建时代居于权力巅峰的国君权力受到一定程度的制约;再次,以天道为依据论证人际等级关系的合理性,对维护家庭的有序和社会的稳定也有重要的作用。天人感应思想无疑具有迷信的成分和消极的影响,但我们对它的合理之处也应有充分的认识。

The thought of correspondence between heaven and human in the Western Han Dynasty held that the ＂heaven＂ is the origin of human. The heaven and the human are of the same kind, and can interact with each other. The ＂heaven＂ has its will and its personality. It can reward the good and punish the evil. It has its moral rationality, which is the basis of humani（y. These ideas are embodied with a strong ethical implication： First, it can develop human＇s respect and awe as well as gratitude towards the heaven and the nature, and can enlighten humans to construct harmonious relationship with the nature. Secondly, according to the law that the code of ethics and conduct of the emperor is determined by heaven, the emperor of a country should follow the set standards by the heaven to be ＂affectionate and selfless, virtuous and benevolent＂. By means of loving and benefiting the people, it can reveal the respect of the emperor towards the heaven and restrict somehow the power of the emperor who was at the top of power in the feudal society. Third, based on the law of the heaven, it is justified to identify the social status and ranks in the society, which is important to maintain the familiar order and social stability. The thought of correspondence between the heaven and the human has superstitious composition and inactive effect, but we should also be fully aware of its rationality.