儒学中的事实认定与价值主张——以由之知之、三纲尊卑、差等之爱三题为例

Factual Statements and Value Propositions in Confucianism

“民可使由之不可使知之”、三纲尊卑、“差等之爱”三说,一直以来被认为是儒家的价值主张,但事实上,无论从命题本身的形式来看,还是从历代大儒的理解来看,它们都只是儒家所认定的社会事实,而儒家在这三个方面的真正主张分别在于且完全在于“由之而自知”、“君仁臣忠父慈子孝夫义妇听”(尤其是“君仁父慈夫义”)和“扩而充之”。通过这些主张,儒家希望能够达成三种理想状况:自我启蒙但随处可安、上下有别但情意交通、亲疏有别但仁爱无疆。儒家在以上三个议题上的论述是全面、平正且极具理论和现实价值的,而贯穿其中的事实认定和价值主张的区别,则是我们解读儒学乃至一切学说的重要工具。

“People can abide by the principle,but cannot make them understand the principle”,“The three cardinal principles”“Honorable and humble”,“Hierarchical love”,these propositions has always been considered as the value propositions of Confucianism,but in fact,they are only the social facts found by Confucianism.On these issues,Confucianism actually advocates“Wisdom through practice”,“The King should be benevolent,father should be kind,husband should be moral”and“Promote one’s love”.Through these propositions,Confucianism hopes to achieve three ideal conditions:self-enlightenment but peaceful in mind no matter how far you go,different status but harmony of feelings,and different intimacy but love without boundaries.The discussion of Confucianism on the above three topics is comprehensive and profound,and has great theoretical and practical value.Among them,the difference between factual statement and value proposition is an important tool for us to interpret Confucianism and all doctrines.