孔子的人性世界述论

Confucius’Theory of Human Nature

孔子人性学说要么只传授于颜回,要么没有传授于任何弟子,造成其人性学说的失传。孔子论性,仅存“性相近也,习相远也”之语,不过,通观《论语》可知,孔子认为人性本质上是人所具有的、与生俱来的属性,是人的共性;孔子认为人性的内容客观上虽为物欲、食色,但是,其主观上希望其为仁、德;从孔子关于天人关系的论述来看,人性的根据在于天、天道;由于孔子未有明言人性的内容,在人性内容方面的不确定性,造成其未能明言人性的价值指向。

Confucius'theory of human nature was either taught only to Yan Hui or not to any of his disciples,resulting in the loss of his theory of human nature.The only thing Confucius said about human nature is that“man's nature is inborn resemblant,while diversifies distinctly thereafter,submissive to his surroundings”.However,according to Analects of Confucius,Confucius believed that human nature is essentially the inherent attribute of human beings and the universal nature of human beings,and although the contents of human nature were objectively material desire,physiological and psychological requirements,they were subjectively hoped to be benevolence and virtue.From Confucius’view on the relationship between heaven and man,the essence of human nature lay in heaven and the tao of heaven.Confucius failed to articulate the value orientation of human nature due to his lack of explicitness and the uncertainty in the content of human nature.