四端与思——孟子性善论再议

Mencius's View on the Original Goodness of Human Nature Reinterpreted

孟子既以心有"四端"论性善,又由"心之官则思"确证人之道德主体性。几位现代新儒家学者均注重从道德主体性的层次诠释孟子性善论,因惟其如此始能超越其他人性观点而决定性地证成性善。但他们又必须顾及四端之说,因此赋予四端种种它们并不必然具有的特质和意义,以使之足以担当道德主体性之位。理解孟子性善论需要处理好"四端"同"心之官则思"二说之间的关系。

Mencius not only interpreted his view on the original goodness of human nature from the fact that there were four terminals in the human heart but also confirmed the moral subjectivity of human beings based on the idea that ＂the function of the human heart is meditation. ＂Several modern neo-Confucian scholars have paid attention to their interpretation of Mencius＇ s view on the goodness of human nature from the level of moral subjectivity,and it is only in this way can it transcend other views on human nature and conclusively justify the goodness of human nature. However,they must also take into account the four-terminal view,and thus endow them with qualities and meanings not necessarily possessed,so that they can fully assume the position of moral subjectivity. It is essential to clarify the relationship between the four-terminal idea and the idea of meditation-as-the-function-of the heart in the interpretation of Mencius＇ s view on the goodness of human nature.