道德重建中的儒学担当

How Confucianism can Undertake the Important Task of Moral Reconstruction

从20世纪90年代初开始,中国社会出现了道德危机,不少学者从道德重建的角度研究道德建设的问题。道德重建的制度性安排是不可或缺的,法律、法规等规制对于道德重建的作用是明显的。但从道德文化建设的角度看,在全球化背景、社会改革和经济发展的当代条件下,中国现代的道德重建,不只需要制度的建设,而且还应该从优秀传统文化中寻找资源,作为中国优秀传统文化主干的儒学有着不可卸载的责任。儒家创立于道德需要重建的时代,形成了生发于家庭的仁爱以及延伸到大爱天下的观念,具体为亲亲、仁民、爱物。相比较于其他思想,历史上每一时代都将儒学精华作为道德重建的核心思想。儒家道德重建的思想源自内心,是通过道德修为而达到游刃于社会规范之后的、由内心实现的自律行为。从道德自律的角度看,当代的道德重建应该借鉴儒家的传统,从个体内心的自觉来实现,让个体去认同道德规范和去接受这种熏染,让天下人接受仁爱观念作为最基本的道德范畴和道德原则。

Since early 1990s, Chinese society has faced a moral crisis. Many scholars have ex- plored the issue of moral construction from the perspective of moral reconstruction. In any case, the institutional arrangement of moral reconstruction is indispensable. The role of laws and other regulations is obvious. However, in contemporary conditions, moral reconstruction in China needs not only the institutional construction but also the resources from the excellent traditional culture. In this sense, Confucianism is a major choice. Founded in the era of moral reconstruction, Confucianism has been the core of moral reconstruction in every historical phase. It stresses the moral reconstruction from the inside of individuals. The contemporary moral reconstruction must refer to Confucian tradition and encourage individuals to identify with moral rules.