“扩四端”何以“保四海”?——论孟子心性秩序与政治秩序贯通的政治哲学

Expanding the Four SproutsHow to Protecting the Four Seas:On the Political Philosophy of Mencius'Integration of Mind Nature Order and Political Order

不忍人之心与不忍人之政的关系是孟子哲学中看似显明而实则含糊的问题。既有研究对此多探讨了善心“为何”有仁政,仍留有部分难题,若立足有善心“如何”有仁政的实践逻辑,则能更充分地回答该问题及其所涉及的其它疑问。孟子以四端之心言性善就意味着尽心功夫是而性的应有之义,尽在为善路径上士与民承担着不同责任,士扩充善端的自觉性就意味着其有出仕的要求,这便有了体民之情的为政方式。士为改变心之不忍的现状而规划各类制度,根本旨趣仍是觉民之仁,如此才算继承礼乐秩序的不忍之政。孟子以善心言仁政实则是以“先觉觉后觉”的方式构想了社会成员仁心相接的完整善制,即遵循先王之道的最佳政制。在先王之道的保障下,所谓“扩而充之”就是士扩充善端以接民之善性,不忍人之心与不忍人之政根本就是一体。由此,孟子政治哲学就不单是对政治提出价值规范,所解决的问题乃是政治社会中不同个体的德性关怀和政治生活中上达天命的可能。

The relationship between the heart of mercy and the politics of mercy is a seemingly obvious but actually ambiguous issue in Mencius'philosophy.Although many studies have explored why the good heart has a benevolent government,there are still some difficulties left behind.If there is a practical logic of benevolent governance based on benevolence,it can more fully answer this question and other related questions.Mencius argues on the goodness of human nature based on the four sprouts means that devoting oneself to one's best efforts is the rightful duty of being good in nature.In the path of doing good,scholars and civilian have different responsibilities.The consciousness of expanding the beginning of goodness means the requirement for official career,which gives rise to a way of governing that empathizes with people’s livelihoods.The fundamental purpose of the various systems planned to change the unbearable situation of the mind is still to cultivate the benevolence of the people,Only in this way can it be considered a benevolent government that inherits the order of ritual and music.Mencius'concept of benevolent governance based on a benevolent heart is actually a complete system of benevolent political system that involves the connection of the benevolent hearts of members of society,following the path of the previous king.Under the guarantee of the Way of the First King,the so-called"expanding and filling"means that scholars expand their good sprouts to embrace the goodness of the civilian.The heart of compassion and the governance of compassion are fundamentally integrated.Therefore,Mencius'political philosophy is not only about proposing value norms for politics,but also about addressing the moral concerns of different individuals in political society and the possibility of reaching the mandate of heaven in political life.