“天命之谓性”:《中庸》的生命思想及其教育哲学意蕴

“What Heaven Imparts to Man is Called Human Nature”:the Thoughts on Life and Philosophy of Education Contained in The Doctrine of the Mean

"天命之谓性"是《中庸》开篇提出的第一个基本命题,是对《中庸》生命思想的集中表达和总体概括,揭示了生命的本源性、普遍性、目的性。"天命之谓性"所表达的生命思想具有深刻的教育哲学意蕴,回答了教育本质、教育目的等教育哲学中最基础的问题,即教育活动的展开在起点上基于生命("天命之谓性");在过程中循于生命("率性之谓道");在目的上又归于生命("尽性"、"成己"、"成物")。在今天看来,《中庸》的生命及其教育哲学思想仍有宝贵的理论与实践价值。

＂What Heaven imparts to man is called human nature＂, the first elementary sentence in the opening of The Doctrine of the Mean,which is the expression and generalization on life education,reveals the origin,the universality and the finality of life. Resourceful thoughts on life expressed by ＂what Heaven imparts to man is called human nature＂,could answer the fundamental questions of philosophy of education,such as the essence and purpose of education. The origin of education is based upon life（＂ what Heaven imparts to man is called human nature＂）, the process of education complies with life（＂to follow our nature is called the Way＂）,and the purpose of education gets back to life（＂enjoying oneself to the full＂,＂becoming the self＂,＂becoming the object＂）. Thus,the thoughts of ＂Moderation＂on life and philosophy of education are valuable in both theory and practice nowadays.