“君子未尝不欲利”:程朱义利观的创见

"Jun-zi Also Wants Benefit":Cheng and Zhu′s Innovative Views on Righteousness and Benefit

程颐解《孟子》“王何必曰利”,与他解《孟子》“故者,以利为本”从利害关系的层面讲“君子未尝不欲利”结合起来,又从义利关系的层面讲“只以利为心则有害”,并讲“仁义未尝不利”。朱熹不满于程颐对“故者,以利为本”的解读,但继承程颐解“王何必曰利”,并予以发挥和完善,既包含了对于利的较多肯定,又把“以利为心”看作人欲之私,还对孟子“言仁义而不言利”做了解释。程朱对“王何必曰利”的解读及其义利观,不仅是中国古代《孟子》诠释史上的重要创见,而且是对孔子讲“君子喻于义,小人喻于利”的义利观的重要发展。后世对于程朱义利观,较为重视其对于利的谨慎,而忽略了他们从利害关系的层面讲“君子未尝不欲利”所包含的对于利的肯定,以至于这一创见被逐渐淡忘。

Cheng Yi′s interpretation of Mencius"why should the king speak of benefit",combined with his interpretation of Mencius"the reason is based on benefit",not only indicated that"Jun-zi also wants benefits"from the perspective of interest,but also argued that"Only focusing on benefit is harmful"from the perspective of righteousness and benefit,and expressed that"Benevolence and righteousness are not opposed to benefit".Zhu Xi was dissatisfied with Cheng′s interpretation of"the reason is based on benefit",but inherited Cheng′s interpretation of"why should the king speak of benefit",and gave full play to and improved it,which not only included more affirmation of benefit,but also regarded"mind of only focusing on benefit"as human′s negative desire,and on this basis explained Mencius"speaking of benevolence and righteousness rather than benefit".Cheng and Zhu′s interpretations of"why should the king speak of benefit"and their view of righteousness and benefit were not only an important innovation in the history of Mencius interpretation in ancient China,but also an important development of Confucius′s view of righteousness and benefit.Later generations paid more attention to Cheng and Zhu′s view of righteousness and benefit,but ignored their affirmation of benefit contained in"Jun-zi also wants benefits"from the perspective of interest,so that this innovative idea was gradually forgotten.