“以德致位”——荀子的政权正当性理论

“Becoming a Monarch by De”:Xunzi's Theory of Regime Legitimacy

在中国古典政治哲学的思想视野中,国家的形成和政权的建立在超自然的至上神命令下,可以得到被统治者最大程度的认可。其后,“天命”的宗教神秘意味呈现逐渐消减的趋势。处在这一转折处的荀子,将政治治乱的因缘彻底归诸人事。其后,通过证成“服人之道”的基础在“政治秩序”的建构,“政治秩序”的建构基于“礼义之分”,“礼义之分”出自圣王“积思虑”之“心”,荀子最终将殷周之际的“以德受命”之“天命观”转变为“以德致位”之“圣人观”。但在此观念之下,还潜藏着专制威权的思想阴影。

In the ideological vision of Chinese classical political philosophy,the formation of the state and the establishment of political power can be recognized by the ruled to the greatest extent.Under the supernatural command of the Supreme God.Afterwards,the religious mystical meaning of“Heaven and Destiny”will gradually diminish.At this turning point,Xunzi completely attributed the cause of political chaos to personnel.After that,by proving that the basis of“the way to serve people”was the construction of“political order”,then the construction of“political order”was based on“the rank of rites and righteousness”,and“the rank of rites and righteousness”came from the“heart-mon”of the holy King's“thinking”,Xunzi finally transformed“the theory of Heaven and Destiny”of“authorizing destiny by De”in Yin and Zhou dynasties into the“the theory of saints”of“becoming a monarch by De”.Under this concept,there is also the ideological shadow of autocracy and violent revolution.