二十世纪中国的理学儒者——蒙文通的中期理学思想研究

The Confucianist of Neo-Confucianism in Twentieth-century China:A Study of Meng Wentong's Midterm Thought of Neo-Confucianism

1944年蒙文通《儒学五论》出版,这一时期是蒙文通学术的第三个阶段,也是其理学思想成熟的阶段,我们可把这个阶段称为蒙文通理学思想发展的中期。在《儒家哲学思想之发展》一文的《后论》部分中,蒙文通指出,朱子学的弊病是格物穷理,阳明学的弊病是满街尧舜,这两种弊病都根源于对理气问题、天道和人道问题的不当处理。蒙文通认为朱熹、王阳明没有重视作为儒家思想与理学思想核心的“择善”与“思诚”。朱子主张即物穷理,忽视了思诚,王阳明讲满街尧舜,忽视了择善。虽然蒙文通对朱子、阳明学说的分析不完全合理,但其中反映的他个人的理学思想是值得注意的,他坚持理气不离不杂,坚持理欲分辨别择,体现了对理学主流思想的继承。在与冯友兰、梁漱溟、熊十力的对比中可以看到,蒙文通的理学思想从形式到内容都更为传统,可以说蒙文通是二十世纪中国的理学儒者,理学是他个人精神生活的依托,在这一点上他与明清理学学者似无二致。

Meng Wentong's Neo-Confucian journey reached its middle phase with the publication of“Five Discourses on Confucianism”in 1944.In this period,he critically assessed Zhu Xi's and Wang Yangming's philosophies.Meng attributed Zhu Xi's shortcomings to a shallow exploration of principles through material engagement and Wang Yangming's to an oversimplified view of universal sagehood.He argued that both philosophers overlooked the core Confucian principles of“choosing the goodness”and“thinking of sincerity,”which are crucial for understanding Neo-Confucianism.While Meng's critiques may deviate from the doctrines of Zhu Xi's and Wang Yangming's,they underscore his commitment to the mainstream thought of Neo-Confucianism.Meng emphasized the inseparability between principles and vital energies,echoing the teachings of mainstream Neo-Confucianism.Positioned as a twentieth-century inheritor of the Neo-Confucianism in the Ming Dynasty,Meng's philosophy blends critical analysis with traditional lineage,thus adapting ancient methodologies to modern moral advancement.His work serves as a bridge between classical Confucianism and contemporary ethical inquiry,enriching the discourse on Neo-Confucian thought in modern China.