孟子仁义实践论辨正

Identify and Correct Mencius on Practice of Benevolence and Righteousness

孟子提出舜"由仁义行,非行仁义也"的命题,揭橥了仁义的实践方式,但却引发了诸多争议。历代学者对于"由仁义行"与"行仁义"的评判标准不一,导致对待"行仁义"的态度反差较大。从践行仁义的境界上看,"由仁义行"与"行仁义"只是工夫纯熟程度的区别;而从主体的道德自觉来看,二者则具有本质上的差别。结合具体语境与孟子思想脉络,发现根源于仁义本性,经由存养、扩充的"行仁义"工夫,最后实现义精仁熟的"由仁义行"境界,更为契合孟子仁义实践论的意蕴。历代关于孟子仁义实践论的诠释,存在着观念混淆、错位的问题,因而需要重新审视并予以辨正、澄清。

Mencius put forward the proposition that Shun walked along the path of benevolence and righteousness and Shun did not need to pursue benevolence and righteousness. The proposition revealed the practical way of benevolence and righteousness,but there was a lot of controversy. The scholars of the past dynasties have different criteria for judging＂from benevolence and righteousness＂and＂follow the benevolence and righteousness＂,and thus brought the sharp-cut attitude towards＂follow the benevolence and righteousness＂. Combined with the specific context and the thread of Mencius’ thought,we discovered that the proposition is rooted in the nature of benevolence and righteousness,and through the preservation and expansion of ＂benevolence and righteousness＂,finally achieved the realm of pursuing ＂benevolence and righteousness＂,and that has a closer affinity of the connotations of Mencius’ theory of benevolence and righteousness. Reexamine the interpretation of the past dynasties,there is a phenomenon of confusion and dislocation of the proposition,so it needs to be clarified.