论榜样在道德教育中的作用——以康德伦理学为基础对榜样主义德性理论的回应

On the Role Exemplars Play in Moral Education——A Reply to Exemplarist Virtue Theory Based on Kant's Ethics

本文从康德伦理学的角度出发,对琳达·扎格泽博斯基(Linda Zagzebski)的榜样主义德性理论作出回应,探讨榜样在道德教育中应起的作用。对康德伦理学中"榜样"概念的分析表明,康德并没有忽视道德教育,也并没有否认榜样在道德教育中的作用。但是,在康德看来,对于完整的、有价值的道德教育来说,树立经验性的榜样是完全不够的。道德教育中真正重要的是让人们意识到是什么使行动具有真正的道德价值,让人们运用自己的理性去判断什么行动才是值得尊重的,从而唤起他们对道德律的敬重。与康德的榜样观相比,扎格泽博斯基的榜样主义德性理论虽然在一定程度上有助于道德实践,但对道德教育来说,榜样的力量永远不能代替理性和道德判断力的培养。

In this paper, a reply is given to Linda Zagzebski＇ s exemplarist virtue theory based on Kant＇ s ethics, and the role exemplars should play in moral education is explored. Specifically, by analyzing the conception of example/exemplar in Kant＇ s ethics, the author argued that Kant does not neglect moral education, and he does not deny the role exemplars play in moral education. However, according to Kant, setting empirical examples/exemplars is far from enough for a complete, valuable moral education. Instead, what really matters in moral education is to let people recognize what renders an action real moral worth, to encourage people to judge what kind of actions deserve to be respected by using their own reason, and thus to evoke their respect for the moral law. Therefore, although Linda Zagzebski＇ s exemplarist virtue theory might be conducive to moral practice to some extent, in moral education, the strength of examples/exemplars can never replace the cultivation of reason and the ability of moral judgment. It is right in this respect that Kant＇ s ethics can give us a good lesson.