自然还是修养:康有为人性论新解

Natural or Cultivated? A New Study on Kang Youwei's Theory of Human Nature

人性论是中国传统哲学的核心问题。身处"数千年未有之大变局"的康有为,借助先秦诸子、宋明理学以及佛学、近代西学的思想资源,对明中叶以降的气质人性论思潮展开批评和改造,明确提出了以"天欲人理"为表征的人性学说。就"天欲"来说,生之谓性、气质一元、性无善恶、人性平等;就"人理"来说,人需要勉强学问、变化气质,以至积善为圣。康有为从天欲出发,最终是要抵达人理。由此他的人性论既不同于传统儒家德性论,也不能简单定义为自然人性论,他主张的实际是一种修养论,这种修养论极具现代性意义。

The theory of human nature is the core of Chinese traditional philosophy. With the help of the thought resources that came from Pre -Qin philosophy, Neo -Confucianism, Buddhism and modern western knowledge, Kang Youwei criticized and transformed the temperament theory of human nature which originated from the middle of Ming Dynasty. Kang Youwei put forward the theory of human nature which was characterized by “natural desire and human truth”. In terms of natural desire, human nature is congenital, temperamental, equal and no good or evil. In terms of human truth, people should learn and change their temperament in order to be good, even prime good. As a result, Kang Youwei’s theory of human nature is neither natural nor virtuous, but cultivated. It is of great significance in modern times.