仁义的道德价值与工具价值

The Moral and Instrumental Values of Benevolence

孔孟对仁义行为作出了道德与工具的价值判别。对安仁、利仁者而言,仁义是主体的直接需求对象,具有纯粹的道德价值。然而,仁义一旦成为社会普遍认同的道德标准后,便不可避免地衍生出工具价值。因此,对强仁、假仁者而言,仁义则成为达到功利性目的的手段,仁义具有工具价值。仁义的道德性和工具性双重价值的出现,使行仁义有了真伪之分。道家对仁义的虚伪性有深刻洞见,对道德的工具化也早有预见。孔孟及后世儒者对仁义工具化的可能性也有所警觉,因而对察行、观心、辨仁义之真伪给予了较多关注。历史证明,道德文明建设必须重视道德观念的内化于心。

Confucius and Mencius differentiated the moral value and instrumental value of benevolence.On the one hand,benevolence has moral value.On the other hand,benevolence has instrumental value,when 'benevolence' is becoming the standard of social life.For some people,benevolence is a pure and moral ideal.For the other people,benevolence is a tool of obtaining reputation.Taoist philosophers recognize this.Confucian scholars have recognized the importance of this issue.These experiences have great referential significance for the civic and moral education of our country.