美国社会道德重建范式的审视与反思

Paradigm of Moral Reconstruction in American Society:An Examination and Reflection

新品格理论作为当代美国社会道德重建的主要理论范式,其勃兴源于对美国社会道德失范这一现实的破局之思,与社会在文化与政治领域的新保守主义转向有关,也离不开当代德性伦理学所建构的理论之基。与传统品格理论及其实践相比,新品格理论及其实践注重培养亲社会行为的良善公民,侧重培育德性与核心价值观,并在道德建设中呈现出矛盾协调、学科交融、资源整合的基本特点。它在一定程度上推动了美国社会的道德重建,但也存在着自身难以逾越的诸如核心价值观的“无根性”、本质上的保守性、教学方法的强制性和说教性等局限。美国社会道德重建范式为我国道德实践中摒弃历史虚无主义与道德相对主义,激发道德实践主体的自主性提供了启示。

As the main paradigm of moral reconstruction,new character theory has come into being in response to the moral problems faced by the American society.It is related to Neo-conservatism in culture and politics and built upon the theoretical basis of contemporary moral ethics.Compared with traditional character theory and its practice,new character theory lays emphasis on cultivation of good citizens with pro-social behavior and cultivation of morality and core values.The application of the new character theory in moral construction presents these characteristics:the coordination of contradictions and the integration of different disciplines and resources.To some extent,though giving a boost to the moral reconstruction in American society,new character theory has its own insurmountable limitations:for example,the core values it advocates are rootless;it is inherently conservative;and the education methods it adopts favor compulsory preaching.The moral reconstruction paradigm in American society provides inspiration for China's moral construction in abandoning historical nihilism and moral relativism,thus stimulating the autonomy of moral practice.