亚里士多德论实践理智与道德德性

Aristotle's Theory of Practical Reason and Moral Virtue

亚里士多德在古希腊德性思想的发展历程中首次明确将人的理智区分为理论的理智与实践的理智,将实践理智引入到对人的道德德性的说明当中。这样,亚里士多德一方面继承了苏格拉底、柏拉图的理智主义德性论立场,克服了智者技艺德性观对德性的外在化、工具化和功利化,捍卫了人的德性的内在性和自主性。另一方面亚里士多德又在某种程度上化解了知识德性难以进入现实生活、实践活动的问题,保证了道德德性的现实性和实践性。他认为实践的理智是运用于人的现实生活、实践活动中的理智,它能够为人的实践活动提供好的考虑,因而可以让人有"好"的实践,让人在"好"的实践活动中成就严格意义上的道德德性。同时,实践理智的发展和作用发挥又离不开道德德性的作用。实践理智和道德德性在亚里士多德这里是一种既有所分别,又相互支持、相互成就、共同发挥作用的关系。

Aristotle clearly defines the rationality of human beings as the rationality of reason and practice for the first time in the development of ancient Greek moral thoughts,and introduces practical reason into the description of human morality.In this way,on the one hand,Aristotle inherited the position of Socrates and Plato’s rationalist virtues,overcame the externalization,instrumentalization and utilitarianization of the wise man’s artistic virtues,and defended the internality and autonomy of the virtues of human beings.On the other hand,Aristotle has solved the problem that knowledge virtue is difficult to enter into real life and practical activities to some extent,and guaranteed the reality and practicality of moral virtue.Aristotle believes that the rationality of practice is the rationality applied to people’s real life and practical activities.It can provide good considerations for people’s practical activities,so that people can have'good'practices and make people'good'.In the practical activities,the moral virtues in the strict sense are achieved.At the same time,the development and function of practical reason can not be separated from the role of moral virtue.Practical reason and moral virtues are not only different in Aristotle here,but also mutually supportive,mutually successful and play a common role.