朱子与康德敬论的比较

The Comparison between Zhu's “Chijing”and Kant's Concept of Respect

朱子的持敬论是其成德之教的关键工夫。当代牟宗三先生认为朱子的持敬,是"空头的涵养",并不能够给出真正的道德实践之动力。笔者对此说给出了讨论,又拟通过康德论尊敬的意义,说明朱子的持敬工夫也有如康德所说的对道德法则的了解,而自然产生尊敬之义。当然,康德之论尊敬,特别强调人在了解道德法则是以无条件的令式以直接决定人的意志时,人感受到自己的意志不可能如此纯粹地只受道德法则的决定,由是而产生惭愧、谦卑之情。此种谦卑之情,对于尊敬的产生是很重要的,而此义在朱子则没有强调。

“Chijing”,a type of moral cultivation which means stabilizing the mind in the state of being calm,attentive and reasonable,is a key method derived from Zhu Xi s doctrine for helping an agent become a virtuous person.For Mou Zongsan,a contemporary Confucian,however,this method is merely considered an“empty cultivation”since it is with no source of moral motivating force.This paper attempts,with selected analysis on Kant s perspective on respect,to illustrate that Zhu s“Chijing”shares the similar concept of respect of Kant,that is,one s respect follows a thorough understanding of moral law.Yet,some differences between Zhu s moral cultivation and Kant s concept of respect do exist.Kant emphasizes that when a person realizes that one s will is solely determined by the unconditional moral law,the purity and sincerity of one s will might be questioned.Therefore,a shameful and humble feeling appears.A person s humbleness to the moral law as the categorical imperative is requisite to form respect.However,this state of mind is not the emphasis of Zhu.A description on the meaning of respect between Kant and Zhu is also included in the paper.