性无善恶、善恶由习——试论王安石人性论思想的基本内容及意义

No Good or Evil Nature,But Good or Evil Way——on the basic content and significance of WANG An-shi's idea of human nature

王安石的道德性命之学开启了北宋儒学"非道德性命"不谈的学术风尚。作为王安石道德性命之学重要组成之一的人性论思想,围绕性与形气、性与命、性与心、性与情、性与心、性与礼乐等传统人性论的关键问题,坚持了性在体上的无善无恶和在用上的善恶相混,认为"性"所具有的为善为恶之潜能是人性善恶得以成立的内在依据,同时强调"习"是人性善恶得以成立的外在依据。这一人性论思想的历史意义,既在于其开创了宋代儒学将"外王"之功业立于"内圣"之学问之风,也在于其肯定人欲之正当性的强烈现实主义趋向。

WANG An-shi＇s study of ethic life actually initiated an academic style of＂Only Ethic Life＂in Northern Song＇s Confucian Study.The idea of human nature,an important part of WANG＇s study of ethic life,centering on the key issues concerning traditional ideas of man＇s nature,such as nature and physical condition,nature and life,nature and heart,nature and temper,nature and ritual music,insisted that man＇s nature be neither good nor evil in substance,but good or evil in practice,which was always confused.The idea held that the good or evil potential in man＇s nature was the internal basis for the formation of good or evil human nature and it also stressed the way that people behave was the external basis for the formation of good or evil human nature.The historic significance of this idea lies in two aspects：it initiated the style of＂external success based on internal cultivation＂in the Confucian Study of the Song Dynasty;it confirmed the strong realistic tendency of human desire＇s justification.