荀子礼制构建的价值基础

The Value Basis of Xun Zi′s Ritual System Constitution

“礼义”一向是荀子研究的焦点,而作为“礼义”价值基础的“仁义”思想却被长期忽视。近来论者虽已措意于此并有所阐发,却鲜有内在于荀子论证系统的专门探究。荀子的“礼论”明确以自然状态下人群的争夺论证先王制作礼义的必要性;与此相应还有一条不为人关注的“仁义暗线”,即先王之所以愿意制作礼义以止息人群的争夺,是因为先王爱人利民的道义担当。先王爱人利民的道义担当构成其制作礼义的可能性。爱人利民的担当来自自爱修德的内在驱动。为了实现爱民利民,荀子一方面强调礼制以“能群”的作用来满足民众的“天养”,另一方面需要以礼义的“分”“辨”止息民众的纷争。荀子对礼制的论证,不是基于统治阶层的血缘宗法,而是基于人类社会和民众生活需要,从而以仁爱思想奠定礼义制度的价值基础,也支撑了贤贤原则。仁义构成礼制论证的终极价值,保证了荀子制度设计的儒家特质。

"Ritual-righteousness"has always been the focus of Xun Zi′s research.Nevertheless,"benevolence-righteousness",as the value basis of"ritual-righteousness",has been neglected for a long time.Although recent commentators have shed some light on this,there are few special investigations in Xun Zi′s argumentation system.Xun Zi′s"ritual theory"clearly demonstrates the necessity of making ritual-righteousness by the Ancient King because of the disputes of the people in the natural state.Correspondingly,there is a hidden line of benevolence-righteousness that has not yet been concerned.The reason that the Ancient King is willing to undertake the production of ritual-righteousness to stop the disputes among the crowd is that the Ancient King loves others and benefits the people.The morality and obligation that the Ancient King shoulders,which comes from his inner drive of self-love and morality cultivation,constitutes the possibility of making ritual-righteousness.In order to realize the love for the people and the benefits to the people,Xun Zi emphasizes that on one hand the ritual system can satisfy the people′s"natural demand"by using the social institution,and on the other hand,with the help of the"division"and"discrimination"of ritual-righteousness,it can also contribute to stopping those disputes among the people.Xun Zi′s demonstration of the ritual system is not based on the blood clan system of the ruling class,but on the needs of human society and people′s livelihood.The thought of benevolence lays the value foundation of ritual-righteousness,and also supports the principle of virtuous politics.Benevolence-righteousness constitutes the ultimate value of ritual system argumentation and guarantees the Confucian characteristics of Xun Zi′s system design.