恶与性:原始儒家对恶的理解

Evil and Nature:Confucian View of Evil

恶既是现代语言,也是中国传统哲学的基本概念。中国传统哲学中的恶是由物理性的人性所自发产生的一种情感,即厌恶、恶心。由厌恶的动作逐渐形成恶人、恶事等恶的观念。恶的行为主体是物理性的实体即人性。厌恶的对象便成为恶。面对相通的对象,共同的主体自然产生一致的感觉或立场,形成普遍的恶的观念。古代儒家的恶是一种具有普遍性和绝对性的观念。恶是真恶。西方哲学思想中的恶的概念表达了行为个体的理性的认识和判断。它具有相对性。恶非真恶。原始儒家之恶显然区别于西方人之恶观念。

Evil is either a modern utterance or a traditional term for Chinese philosophy. In traditional Chinese Confucianism, the concept of evil refers to a natural affection which stems from human nature, i.e. aversion. The one which causes aversion is defined as evil man, the thing causing aversion is named as evil thing. The agent body of this affection is the material substance or human nature. The object of aversion becomes evil. The common nature, facing the same object, must arises the same affection. The traditional confucian evil affection is universal and absolute. Evil is in its real sense. The western notion of evil expresses behavior individual's rationla cognition and judgement. It is relativistic. Evil is not real evil.The original Confucian evil is clearly different from the western concept of evil.