仁、义、礼的道德框架及其实践限制——知识社会学的考察

The Moral Framework of Ren(Benevolence),Yi(Righteousness),and Li(Ritual)and Its Practical Limitations:An Examination of the Sociology of Knowledge

仁、义、礼是孔子继承前贤的德行观念建构的一种道德实践学说。本文从知识社会学出发,指出这一学说能否付诸实施的关键在于其中之“义”是否被激发。对行动者而言,“义”一旦得以启动,“仁”与“礼”便可转化为行动,也能据此区分出君子和小人。通过列举日常事例,本文指出这一道德实践方式实为一种超越于利益之上的“施报”模式,在社会学上可称之为“道义交换论”,以区别于经济学或社会学中其他的各种交换论。而当此种道德实践遭遇社会现实时,其局限则在于它往往运行于初级群体或士大夫阶层,并不断受到其他学说或现实利益的挑战。

Ren(benevolence),yi(righteousness),and li(ritual)are a theory of moral practice that Confucius constructed by inheriting the concepts of virtue from his predecessors.From the sociology of knowledge,this paper points out that the key to whether or not this theory can be put into practice lies in whether or not the"yi"in it has been activated.For actors,once"yi"is activated,"ren"and"li"can be transformed into action,and a distinction can be made between gentleman and villain.By citing everyday examples,this paper points out that this moral practice is actually a mode of"reward"that goes beyond benefits,and it can be called"moral exchange theory"in sociology to differentiate it from other kinds of exchange theory in economics or sociology.When such moral practice meets social reality,its limitation is that it tends to operate in the primary group or the scholarly class and is constantly challenged by other theories or real interests.