论《论语》之“性与天道”及当今儒学的走向

On “Human Nature and Natural Law” in The Analects and the Trend of Contemporary Confucianism

"性与天道"一词出自《论语·公冶长》子贡之言,虽然在《论语》中仅出现一次,但是后世学者对此却聚讼纷纭。爬梳从汉至宋对子贡之语的注疏,可显见先贤们对性与天道的诠释和追问皆有其时代特点。同时,在这历史思想演变过程中,有一个从经验层面把握性与天道到理论论证这样一个发展的轨迹。在这一思想发展的轨迹当中,一个学以致用的原则一直贯穿其中,即历代对性与天道有不同诠释的儒者都秉持着一个基本一致的治学态度和方法,就是以入世治世之实用态度来取舍、践履并实现性与天道,使天道性命落实到人世中,避免蹈入虚空,沦为空谈。由自孔子始的儒者们所具有的入世救世的态度和信念,指出儒学在古代社会发挥了重大作用。思考在现代经济社会中儒学所面临的挑战和发展走向。

＂Human nature and natural law＂ in The Analects. Gongyechang was the word spoken by Zi Gong, a student of Confucius. Though it appeared only once in The Analects, but there were many discussions and conflicts of opinions in the later scholars. From the Han Dynasty to the Song Dynasty, the scholars＇ opinions all had characterized the times about the interpretations of human nature and natural law. Meanwhile, these interpretations had a development process from experience to theory. Although their ideas were different, these scholars were positive and showed practical attitudes to acceptance or rejection, to practicing and to achieving human nature and natural law.