人性何以为善?——对“孟子论证”的分析和重释

Why Is Human Nature Good? ——An Analysis and Reinterpretation of “Mencius Argument”

孟子对性善论提出了一个最集中和对后世有深远影响的论证。我们可以简称为“孟子论证”。这一论证可以从性质上区分为两类:一类是反驳性的论证,另一类是申论性的论证;也可以从内容上区分为“例证”和“理证”。这些论证的主要内容和特征是什么呢?它们是否有足够的说服力?对此我们需要做一些细致的分析。而孟子在此论证基础上建立的性善论又如何理解,是否可以做一些调整?借助发展到今天的时代情势和知识背景,尝试对性善论做一新的解释。

On his theory of original goodness of human nature(性善论),Mencius(孟子)put forward his most concentrated argument which produced far-reaching influence upon the later ages.We can simply call it“Mencius argument”(孟子论证).This argument can be divided into two aspects in terms of nature:one is a refutative argument,and the other is an argumentative argument;It can also be divided into exemplary argument(例证)and inference argument(理证)in terms of content.What are the main contents and features of these arguments?Are they enough convincing?For this,we need to do some detailed analysis.And how should we understand Mencius’s theory of original goodness of human nature on the basis of the argument,and can we do some adjustments?In the end,this paper tries to make a new explanation of Mencius theory with the help of the current situation and the knowledge background that has been developed up to today.