本源论与传统儒家思维方式

Theory of First Principles and Traditional Confucian Thinking Mode

中国哲学具有本源(原)论的传统。它或者以性(德性、自然之性、天理、良知)为本,代表人物有孟子、王弼、朱熹、王阳明等;或者以礼为本,代表人物有荀子、董仲舒等。无论是性本源论还是礼本源论,皆强调本源对于生存的决定性作用与地位,本源即为主宰者。这与"主"字的原义不谋而合:源头为主,本源即主宰。这便是传统儒家的思维方式:本源决定生存与存在。这种思维方式与现代理性决定论的思维模式迥然不同。

Chinese philosophy possesses a tradition of a theory of first principles. The principles range across from either Human Nature, the Principle （Li）, the good Mind represented by Mencius, Wang Bi, Zhu Xi and Wang Yangming respectively, or the theory of etiquette, which were hold by Xunzi and Dong Zhongshu. Both theories of principles emphasize the significance of origin to existence, and which is able to be defined as master. This coincides with the primitive denotations of Zhu （master） inevitably. This illustrates the traditional thinking from popular decision mode which mode that origin decides living or existence. This mode differentiates stresses the role of reason, i.e. reason decides existence.