儒家“义利之辨”的基本内涵及其当代意义

The Basic Connotation of Confucian Distinction between Righteousness and Benefit and Its Contemporary Significance

根本否定儒家"义利之辨"在今天仍具有积极意义、将儒家"义利之辨"的基本精神归结为义利对立基础上的取义舍利或重义轻利、认为儒家"义利之辨"中包含了主张"以义取利"的内容,是误解儒家"义利之辨"的三种有代表性的观点。儒家"义利之辨"包含了四个方面的基本内容:第一,明确反对见利忘义;第二,肯定合理之利的正当性;第三,在动机上反对"以义求利",但在结果上可以接受"因义得利";第四,在特殊情况下则牺牲利益而成就道义,其极端的情况就是孔子所谓"杀身成仁"、孟子所谓"舍生取义"。综而言之,儒家"义利之辨"归根结底体现为一种"义以为上"即以德性的要求作为人之所以为人的安身立命之本的精神追求。儒家"义利观"对于现代人仍能起到相当程度的警醒作用。

There are three representative viewpoints, which misunderstand Confucian distinction between righteousness and benefit. The first one negates fundamentally it＇s positive significance in today, the second one attributes it＇s basic spirit to opposite foundation of righteousness and benefit, the third one believes that it contains getting benefit via righteousness. The basic content of Confucian distinction between righteousness and benefit includes four aspects, namely： first, opposes clearly unscrupulous actions; second, confirms the legitimacy of reasonable benefit; the third, objects to getting benefit through righteousness as a tool in motivation, but we can accept benefit because of righteousness in consequence; fourth, achieves morality at the expense of the interests in the special case, the extreme is Confucius, the so-called martyrdom, Mencius, the so-called sacrifice for justice. In a word, Confucian distinction between righteousness and benefit embodies finally a kind of spirit pursuit of righteousness is above everything else, that is, regarding the requirements of virtue as the true man＇s root of the ultimate concern. The Confucian idea between righteousness and benefit can still play role of alert level for modern people.