孟子、庄子伦理学之比较

A Comparison of Mencius and Chuang-tzu’s Ethics

孟庄虽然并未直接照面,但对其进行伦理上的比较却具有很强的典范意义,因为二者正好代表了儒道关于伦理的两种不同理解类型。孟子是一种从'人极'立场出发的行动性伦理;相应的,其伦理视域是偏颇的。而庄子则是一种从'天倪'视域出发的观视化伦理;相应的,其伦理行为是清浅的。道德行为想要成就,就必然要求隆起相应的中心高地,这是一种同一性的努力。此中心高地,一方面可以表现为行动的目的,另一方面也可以表现为行动的动力源泉。孟子通过'诚'之凝聚来保障此行动之动力(或目的)的实现;而庄子则是通过'虚'之呈现,平和、动摇此人为造作的中心,从而保障了伦理视域的水平化、差异化。而孟子强调的行为动力(或目的)根本上则是'自我'生意的纯粹感受或明觉,所以自我对他者的仁爱无非是'自我'对一己生意的尽力追求或者充沛流溢。而在水平化视域下,庄子主张自我与他者之间的知止有间,彼此尊重。而相互的尊重,使得彼此的生意各自在充裕的空间内自然舒发。平心而观,伦理的正当品格应该以视域之平为底色,其次才是相应的行为与善的追求。在这个意义上,庄子的伦理学比之孟子的伦理学具有优先性。

Although Mencius did not encounter Chuang-tzu face to face in their time,but the comparison of the ethics between them has a typical significance,because their views represent the two different types of understanding on ethics.Mencius is a kind of ethics of behavior from the position of the'Renji',but its visual field of ethics is biased.Chuang-tzu is a kind of ethics vision from the position of the'Tianni',but its ethical behavior is limpid.In order to achieve the achievement of moral behavior,it is necessary to demand the corresponding central highland,which is an effort of identifying.The central highland,on the one hand,can be considered as the purpose of action,and on the other hand it can be seen as the motive force behavior.Mencius guarantees the implementation of the motive(or purpose)of action by'Cheng';and from the perspective of'Xu',Chuang-tzu smoothes and shakes the center that is made by the mankind,so as to ensure the complanation and differentiation of the visual field of ethics.The motive(or purpose)of behavior emphasized by Mencius is actually a kind of pure feeling or awareness of the life of itself,so the love of oneself to the other is nothing more than the arduous pursuit or the plump flush of the life of self.However,Chuang-tzu maintains the ceasing of the knowledge,keeping a distance between oneself and the other,respecting each other.The respect for each other can make individual life grow naturally in their own space.From a rational view,the proper character of ethics should be based on a just level,then be followed by the appropriate behavior and the pursuit of goodness.In this sense,Chuang-tzu’s ethics is preferable to Mencius’s ethics.