师者 道也——孟子师道论之探微

Traditional Shidao of Mencius

孟子直接论述教师的文字不多,也未直接提出“师道”的概念,但其言语及行为中实含着师道的精神。面对纷乱的天下,他欲以大道来相救,并自视为道之化身,故而与诸侯相处,既不愿“自鬻”,更不受其征召,而是以师的身份教导他们。对于求学的弟子,他不是“来者不拒”,而是有所选择。他认为师职具有正当性,育才是人生的最大乐趣。概言之,师道既是他的教育哲学,也是他的政治哲学,更是其生存哲学,且上承孔子,下启荀子,实为教育文化之关键枢纽。

Although Mencius did not directly discuss teachers, nor did he directly put forward the concept of "Shidao". The pith of Shidao was embodied in Mencius’ words and deeds. He tried to enlighten Princes in name of an educator, rather than on the base of buyer-seller or monarch-subject relationship. In face of ordinary students, he refused to answer questions from someone relying on identity or status. In his opinion, teachers were a profession with intrinsic justification, and educating was the greatest pleasure in life. Taking Shidao as the educational, political, and even survival philosophy, Mencius inherited Confucius and enlightened Xunzi, which was the key hinge of education and culture.