司马迁的因俗以治思想及其现实镜鉴

Sima Qian's Economic Thought of Governance by Convention and Its Contemporary Significance

作为一种非正式制度,习俗在国家的社会经济发展和治理中起着非常重要的作用,在我国的古代社会尤其如此。司马迁较早注意到了俗与治的内在关联,但学术界忽视了其在司马迁经济思想中的重要地位。文章对司马迁的经济思想谱系中"俗"与"治"两大重要范畴进行了关联阐述,介绍了司马迁"因俗以治"治道思想的源流和主张,并结合现代经济学理论对其进行延伸与扩展,探讨其现实意义。研究发现:(1)司马迁的治道思想兼容了道家与儒家的无为而治思想的不同侧面,而其"善因论"的要义正在于"俗之所欲,因而予之"。(2)因俗以治的核心是因循人"生有欲"和"皆为利"的本性及民间习俗来因地制宜、因时制宜地立俗施事,以达至"事少而功多"的理想治理效果。(3)由于司马迁的经济思想带有浓厚的经验色彩和朴素性质,而且中国古代社会缺乏良好的市场环境,因此其在近代以前始终未得到重视和采纳。(4)司马迁"因俗以治"思想给现代国家治理带来了众多启示:一是要尊重风俗习惯并加以因势利导;二是要注重习俗等非正式制度与正式制度的兼容;三是要让好的习俗成为一种稳态均衡而固定下来并延续下去。文章不仅是对司马迁经济思想研究的丰富和拓展,而且对中国国家治理能力的提升也提供了有益的历史借鉴。

As an informal institutional arrangement,convention plays a very significant role in socio-economic development and state governance,especially in ancient Chinese society.Sima Qian noted the inherent relationship between＂convention＂and＂governance＂,but its importance in his economic thought is often neglected in academia.This paper analyzes the two important and interrelated categories of＂convention＂and ＂governance＂in Sima Qian＇s economic ideological system,introduces the origin and views of Sima Qian＇s way of governance by convention,extends it by modern economic theory,and explores its contemporary significance.It arrives at the conclusions as follows：firstly,Sima Qian＇s way of governance encompasses different aspects of non-intervention governance of both Taoism and Confucianism,and his＂master way of following the natural law＂emphasizes that＂the ones in power should fulfill the wishes of the common people＂;secondly,the core of governance by convention is to follow human nature of＂pursuing desires and benefits＂and folk custom to achieve more effective governance by observing convention in accordance with specific situations;thirdly,as Sima Qian＇s economic thought had strong characteristics of empiricism and simplicity and the ancient Chinese society lacked a favorable market environment,his thought had not been valued nor been adopted until the modern times;fourthly,Sima Qian＇s governance by convention inspires modern state governance in the following aspects：respecting and following convention and custom,emphasizing the compatibility between informal institutions（such as custom）and formal institutions,and consolidating and promoting good customs.This paper not only extends the research on Sima Qian＇s economic thought,but also provides valuable historical reference to the enhancement of state governance capability.