明清之际三种人性论与中国伦理学的现代转向

On Three Kinds of Theories of Human Nature during the Ming and Qing Dynasties and the Modern Turn of Chinese Ethics

明清之际有三种人性论——以李贽、顾炎武为代表的基于自然人性论基础上的“人必有私”论,以王夫之为代表的“继善成性”、“习与性成”与“性日生日成”的辩证、发展的人性论,以颜元、戴震等为代表的“气质之性一元”论。这三种人性论为中国传统伦理学的现代转向奠定了理论基础。这种新伦理学的基本精神是:一切伦理原则必须奠基在人的感性生活基础之上,只有通过符合人性的伦理的规范与引导,人性的完满与光辉才能展示出来。

In the period of Ming and Qing dynasties there were three theories of human nature which laid the theoretical foundation for the modern turning-point in Chinese traditional ethics: Li Zhi and Gu Yanwu thought that 'human beings must be selfish' based on their understanding of natural man; Wang Fuzhi held a dialectic and development view on human nature, whose main points were that 'nature is the result of constantly reception of the primordial Good', 'nature and habit are concomitantly developed', and 'nature grows daily and matures daily'; and Yan Yuan and Dai Zhen put forth a monist theory of physical nature. The basic idea of this new ethics is that all ethical principles must be based on the perceptual life of human beings, only by the regulation and guidence of the ethics which is in accordence with human nature, can the human nature expresses its integrity and glory.