由《告子》管窥孟子的人性论思想

Discussion on Mencius's Thought of Human Nature from "Gao zi"

孟子是最早对人性给予系统论述的哲学家,其关于人性的思想散见于《孟子》诸篇之中,而《告子》篇则是专对人性的一次系统论述。在这一篇中,孟子通过与告子的辩论,首先明确提出了人性本善的思想,驳斥了性恶与性无善与不善的观点;其次就是对人的类本质作出了明确规定,从人性的角度把人与动物区别开来;再次就是对人之为人的方向作出了明确说明,即人要求其所放之心,要复其本善之性。孟子人性论思想开启了中国"心性思想"的先河,在整个中国思想史上占据着重要地位,并对后世儒家思想产生了深刻的影响。

Mencius was the first philosopher who systematically gave a discussion on human nature. His thoughts on human nature were scattered in the articles of Mencius, while the “Gao zi” was a systematic discussion of human nature. In this article, Mencius first explicitly put forward the idea of human nature and goodness through the debate with the Gao zi, refuting the view of human nature, which is goodness and badness. Secondly, it makes clear the definition of human nature. The angle distinguishes people from animals;once again, it makes a clear statement about the direction in which people are human beings, that is, people demand that they be placed in their hearts and that they should restore their goodness. Menciuses theory of human nature opened the precedent of China's “heart thoughts”, occupied an important position in the history of Chinese thought, and had a profound impact on Confucianism in later generations.