严复思想的伦理向度:“尚力”与“尚德”

The ethical dimensions of Yanfu s thought:power and morals

在中国伦理思想近现代转型过程中,严复"力""德"相备的伦理思想发挥了重要引领作用。他主要通过社会进化论来阐述其伦理思想,推崇动力与秩序兼顾的伦理原则,在寻求国富民强的进程中,以"尚力"和"尚德"作为其思想的两个伦理向度。"尚力"源于"竞争-进步"的进化意识,成就于科学与民主的自由精神;"尚德"是近现代中国社会的迫切的伦理要求,体现于个体德性与公德的统一。为此,严复以"群""己"为基本范畴,以自由为核心价值构建了新的伦理体系。在这一体系中,"尚力"、"尚德",个体至善与公德心,个体权利与民族利益交织在一起,都是为了应对近现代中国的民族危机,为了实现国家富强、救亡图存的伦理目标。

Yanfu s idea on power and morals has guided the development of ethics in China in the early 20 th century.It falls into two ethical dimensions:power and morals.The former means a free spirit,science and democracy;the latter is a unity of private conduct and public spirit.Starting from the two categories of“group”and“self”,Yanfu developed his ethical theory where power,morals,private conduct,public spirit,personal right and national interests all weave together in hope of helping save the nation from subjugation and ensure its survival.