孔子“信”之教考辨

A Study of Confucius’Education of“Faith”

“子以四教:文、行、忠、信。”孔子主张四教并重,既重视知识层面的“文”之教,也重视实践层面的“行”之教,还强调道德层面的“忠”之教、“信”之教,四教相辅相成,构成孔子教育内容的整体框架。孔子的“信”既指人们交往时讲诚信、重诺言的外在行为,也指个人言行一致的内在修养;既有一般伦理准则含义,亦含有特殊伦理准则意义。孔子的“信”之教是一种道德教育,贯穿于如何为政、如何实践、如何成就仁德等诸多方面,是重要的道德教育科目。

“Confucius has four educational contents:literature,action,loyalty and faith.”Confucius advocated that the four educational contents were equally important.He not only attaches importance to the education of“literature”in the level of knowledge,but also pays attention to the education of“action”in the level of practice.He emphasizes the education of“loyalty”and“faith”in the level of morality.The four educational contents complement each other and constitute the overall framework of Confucius’educational content.Confucius’“faith”refers to the external behavior of people who can be honest and attach importance to the promise,and the internal cultivation of people who can practice what they say.It also has the meaning of general ethical principles and special ethical principles.Confucius’education of“faith”is a kind of moral education.It runs through many aspects such as how to govern,how to practice,how to achieve benevolence and morality.It is an important moral education subject.