感通能力与“可以为善”:朱子对性善论的诠释

The Capability of Empathy and“Being Able to Do Good”:Zhu Xi’s Interpretation of the Innate Goodness of Human Nature

心性论构成了朱子哲学的重要内容,但论者往往将注意力集中于心、性、情等概念的内涵及相互之间关系的辨析。事实上,朱子心性论的核心所涉及的是以仁义礼智之性为具体内容的人性对主体而言究竟意味着什么,以及人性何以是善的这两个关键问题。在朱子那里,人性实质上是主体内在的感通能力,主体以这种感通能力为基础,在遭遇相应的外在情境时发而为恻隐、羞恶、辞让是非之情。对朱子而言,恻隐、羞恶、辞让、是非之情,作为心理层面的善的意识,可以进一步引发亲亲、仁民、爱物、敬长、尊贤等具体的善的行为。虽然从善的意识到善的行为的转化往往受到主体自身的自私自利的动机的抑制,但这种善的意识本身总是会在主体遭遇孺子入井等情境时,不可遏止地、必然地流露出来。所谓的人性本善正是在这一意义上说的。

The theory of mind and human nature constitutes a significant part of Zhu Xi’s philosophy.However,scholars often focus on the connotations and distinctions among concepts such as mind,human nature,and emotions.In fact,the core of Zhu Xi’s theory of mind and human nature involves two key questions:what the nature of human goodness—embodied by benevolence,righteousness,propriety,and wisdom—means for the subject and why human nature is inherently good.For Zhu Xi,human nature is essentially an inherent capability for empathy within the subject.Based on this capability,the subject can feel compassion,shame,disgust,and discern right from wrong when encountering corresponding external situations.For Zhu Xi,these psychological states of goodness can further trigger specific good behaviors like kindness towards kin,benevolence towards the people,love for objects,respect for elders,and admiration for the virtuous.Although the transformation from a sense of goodness to good behavior is often inhibited by the subject’s own selfish and self-serving motives,this sense of goodness itself will inevitably and necessarily manifest when the subject encounters situations like seeing a child fall into a well.The so-called innate goodness of human nature is understood in this sense.