《管子》情性论

On the Theory of Natural Instincts in Guanzi

《管子》以治国为核心的人性论是以人生而就有的本能即情性为人性,可称之为情性论。《管子》情性论以满足君主、百姓情性,即以治国安邦为核心。它与孟子、荀子、告子等人性论思想相比,具有鲜明的特点,主要表现为:其一,《管子》情性论关注的重点是君主、百姓所拥有的与生俱来的本能,并非探讨人性的善恶,属于西周、春秋时期传统的人性论;其二,《管子》情性论以治国为核心,并非以提高道德、实现理想人格为重点。

The theory of human nature in Guanzi is to administer the state affairs well,which people are believed to be born with,thus,in this book,the theory of natural instincts is equal to that of human nature.Guanzi takes it as the core of the theory of natural instincts to meet the natural instincts of both the monarch and its subjects,that is,to run the state well and bring peace to its subjects. In contrast to the theory on human nature from Mencius,Xuncius and Gaozi,the theory of human nature in Guanzi has the following distinct characteristics： firstly,the theory in Guanzi focuses more on the ability that the monarch and its subjects are born with,rather than on distinguishing evilness from kindness,which is in the sphere of conventional theory of human nature that flourished in the Western Zhou Dynasty and the Spring and Warring Period; secondly,the theory on natural instincts in Guanzi centers around the running of the state affairs instead of around the morality improvement and achieving ideal character.