法则、规则、准则:行为原理的三种形态

Analysis on the Laws,Rules and Maxims:Three Forms of Behavior Theory

人作为理性的行为主体,通常遵循着某种行为原理。这种行为原理有法则、规则和准则三种形态,但在汉语中,三者之间的区别常常被忽略。法则是事物存在的客观必然的联系,是自在且超越的,在儒家那里,这种超越的法则便是理。当超越的法则进入经验世界后,它便转换为规则,广义的规则是对超越的法则的经验反映,如天道与人道。经验的规则是对超越的法则的主观形式化,具有必然性;形式化的规则在一定范围内普遍有效,且是复数的。当形式化的规则进入意志领域便获得了生机,成为行为的准则。主观的准则引导出具体行为,并隐身于行为中,成为动态行为的一部分。自主的主体选定众多规则中的一个来作为自己的唯一行为准则,而只有遵循这一行为准则的行为才是自由且合理的行为。法则与规则的不分体现了人们未能区别经验与超越之间的关系,而规则与准则的混淆则体现了人们对个体自主性的忽略。

As a rational behavior subject,man usually observes certain behavior theories.These theories have three forms:laws,rules and maxims,but in Chinese,their differences are often ignored.Law is the objective and necessary relation of the existence of beings,which is in itself and beyond.In Confucianism,this transcendent law is the logic.When the transcendent law enters the experiential world,it is transformed into rules,and the generalized rule is the empirical reflection of the transcendent law,such as the way of heaven and humanity.The rule of experience is the subjective formalization of the transcendent law and has inevitability.Formalized rules are generally valid within a certain range and are multiple.When formalized rules enter the realm of the will,they gain vitality and become maxims of behavior.Subjective maxims result in concrete behaviors and become part of dynamic behaviors.The subject chooses one of multiple rules as his only maxim of behavior,and only the behavior that observes this maxim is free and reasonable.The distinction between law and rule reflects people s failure to distinguish the relations between experience and transcendence,while the confusion between rule and maxim reflects people s neglect of individual autonomy.