从《荀子》与《圣经》看中西人性善恶观异同

A Comparison and Contrast Between Chinese and Western Conceptions of Good and Evil: The Bible and Xunzi in Focus

"人性"问题是人类社会最根本的问题之一。《荀子》与《圣经》对此都做出了深刻的探讨。不同于儒家孟子的"性善论",荀子提出了"性恶论",他认为人性本恶,需要"化性起伪"以积善成德,最终达成个人道德与社会秩序的完满。《圣经》是犹太教与基督教最重要的圣典。在这两个宗教中,上帝是造物主,也是道德的最终原则。基督教中,人类有"原罪",人性是恶的,需要用神性代替人性,最终获得救赎。犹太教中没有"原罪"的观念,世界中的恶是神的惩罚,选民需遵循耶和华的律法以期获得福报。中西方对"人性"问题的不同解释与解决方法既与其不同的社会产生环境有关,又影响了各自社会思想和文明秩序,并将在人类今后的发展中继续产生作用。

Questions about the origin of ＂human nature＂ have long confounded mankind. The Bible and Xunzi both extensively elaborated on this question. Confucian thinker, Xun Zi, put forward the theory of ＂human nature＇s innate evil＂, contrasting himself from Mencius＇ theory that people were born with goodness, and argued that it was imperative that man＇s evil nature ＂be transformed＂ by good deeds,ultimately leading to moral individuals forming a perfect social order. The Bible is considered the foundational canon of both Judaism and Christianity. In both religions, God is both the creator as well and the ultimate source of morality. Christianity holds that human beings inheriting ＂original sin＂ are endowed with an evil nature and need turn to a divine entity in their ultimate quest for salvation. In contrast,Judaism does not share this concept of ＂original sin＂, holding that ＂evil＂ is to be considered a direct punishment from God, and that the Chosen must abide by God＇s law in expectation of His blessings. Thus,Chinese and Western interpretations of ＂human nature＇s＂ origin trace their genesis to diverse milieux, each influencing their respective social and civilizational orders, hence continuing to play a role in mankind＇s development.