孟子“义利之辨”探微——以对“利”之多重含义的辨析为中心

An Exploration of Mencius's"Discrimination between Righteousness(Yi)and Profit(Li)"——Centered around the Analysis of the Multiple Meanings of"Benefit(Li)"

“义利之辨”是儒家伦理学关切的基本问题。后世的注家以及诠释者对此展开了多维度的探讨,或站在“仁义未尝不利”的角度调和义利关系,或侧重于从道德形上学的角度诠释仁义而忽视对利的分析。在这些解释模式中,“义利之辨”被剥离了早期儒家政治哲学关切成为个体道德抉择的问题,利也往往被泛指利益或财利,从而使“义利之辨”招致了诸多误解。在孟子“义利之辨”的原初语境中,重义轻利主要是对社会精英的要求;利也并非泛指善好或财利,而是可以由对“富国强兵”的追求引申为“强力”。据此可以系统解释由“利心”引发“争竞”的基本机制以明确“为利之害”,从而为重义轻利的合理性提供一种立足于现实的辩护。

The distinction between righteousness(Yi)and Profit(Li)is a fundamental concern in Confucian ethics.Subsequent commentators and interpreters have conducted multidimensional discussions on this topic,either reconciling the relationship between righteousness(Yi)and Profit(Li)from the perspective of"benevolence and righteousness are never disadvantageous",or focusing on interpreting benevolence and righteousness from a moral metaphysical perspective while neglecting the analysis of Profit(Li).In these explanatory models,the"distinction between righteousness(Li)and profit(Li)"has been stripped of the early Confucian political philosophy's concern and become a matter of individual moral choice.Profit(Li)is often referred to broadly as goodness or financial benefit,which has led to many misunderstandings about the"distinction between righteousness(Li)and profit(Li)".In the original context of Mencius's"distinction between righteousness(Li)and profit(Li),"emphasizing righteousness(Li)over profit(Li)was mainly a requirement for social elites;"Li"does not generally refer to goodness or financial benefits,but can be extended from the pursuit of"enriching the country and strengthening the military"to"strength".Based on this,the basic mechanism of"competition"triggered by"A desire for profit(Li)"can be systematically explained to clarify the harm caused by"profit",thus providing a realistic defense for the rationality of valuing righteousness(Li)over profit(Li).