尊道而贵德——老子德之思想论析

Worshiping Taoism and Respecting Morality——On Lao Zi's Thoughts of Morality

老子基于对世界之"道"的本原性、本体性及"道"与"德"的源流关系阐述,对"德"观念予以了突破性的重塑。老子把德分为上德和下德,上德即道之至善本性的体现,下德即世界万物得之于道的善之本性;他对道和德的态度是"尊道而贵德",即以道的绝对仁爱的本质为至尊,以道的绝对善良的本性(德性)为至爱。在老子看来,圣人是人类德性的典范,集诸多品德于一身,从善如流;他们是人类美好生活的组织者、创造者和革新者,因而是人类社会当之无愧的统治者。作为统治者,圣人治理国家的方式是典型的德治,即自然之治和无为之治。老子德之思想为我们准确把握道德的内涵,重新理解道德之于人的价值,全面认识善德者的崇高形象,深刻领悟德治的价值和目标,具有重要的理论参考价值。

Based on the origin and ontology of Taoism and the relationship between Taoism and morality, Lao Zi made a breakthrough in the concept of ＂morality＂. Lao Zi classified morality into upper morality and lower morality. The upper was the manifestation of the good nature of Taoism, and the lower was the nature of goodness of all the things in the world rooted in Taoism. Lao Zi worshiped Taoism and respected morality. He believed that saints, regarded as the paradigm of human virtues, possessed several virtues. Saints were the organizers, creators, and innovators of the good life of man. Therefore, they were deservedly the rulers of the human society. As rulers, the ways saints managed state affairs were typically the management of state affairs by morality. For us, Lao Zi＇ s thoughts of morality is of important theoretical reference value to accurately grasp the connotation of morality, re- understand the value of morality to man, know in an all-round way the noble images of saints, and comprehend the values and goals of managing state affairs by morality.