先秦儒家人性论的平等面相--兼与孟旦的“自然平等”比较

Equality in the Theory of Human Nature of Pre-Qin Confucianism--A Comparison with Donald J.Munro's“Natural Equality”

先秦儒家人性论认为人性是普遍的,即“所有人都具有同一人性”。普遍人性思想强烈展现出先秦儒家人性论内含着一个平等面相。这一人性平等面相包含“人性事实平等”和“人性发展可能性的平等”两个层次,是一个具有双层结构的平等观。这种平等观有着相应的价值规范意涵,有别于孟旦主张的自然平等。人性事实平等自然有着平等对待的价值规范要求,但是人性发展可能性的平等之“体”所包含的机会平等和等级规范弱化和限制了“平等对待”的要求。现代中国正视“平等对待”的价值规范要求,在先秦儒家平等观的基础上发展出了有别于西方的平等观念。

Pre-Qin Confucianism holds that human nature is universal,that is,“all people have the same human nature”.This implies that the pre-Qin Confucian theory of human nature contains an egalitarian aspect.The equality of human nature includes two levels of“equality of human nature”and“equality of human nature development possibility”,which is an equality view with two-layer structure.This kind of equality view has the corresponding value norm connotation,which is different from the natural equality advocated by Donald J.Munro.The factual equality of human nature naturally has the requirements of the value norms of equal treatment,but the equality of opportunity and hierarchy norms contained in the equality of human development possibilities weaken and limit the requirements of“equal treatment”.Modern China attaches great importance to the value norms of“equal treatment”,which is developed on the basis of the pre-Qin Confucian concept of equality and different from the western concept of equality.