徐小跃



人心向善：中华民族的信仰追求*——《孟子》思想研读

徐小跃

摘要孟子主张“人性本善”，“天性本善”，所以他的人性论就是天人合德论；孟子认为修身就在于“存心”与“寡欲”，并强调“反求诸己”在修养中的重要作用；“求善”“可欲”构成孟子“为善论”的内容；为了具体展现人的为善，孟子欲通过对“大人”的行径的描述和规定来实现这一点；人心向善，一切为善，哪怕牺牲生命，孟子通过他的“舍生取义”思想的论述证明了这一价值取向；孟子认为实行仁政者将无敌于天下；最能表征“人心向善”的“仁爱”是孟子给人们指明的信仰追求；存在于《孟子》之中的“道”，必将以其超越时空、跨越国度、富有永恒魅力的特性，光耀现实和未来的中国与世界。

关键词孟子性人性性善存心向善

分类号G256 B222.5

DOI 10.16810/j.cnki.1672-514x.2016.01.001

*本文系江苏省高校哲学社会科学重点研究基地重大项目“儒道佛与中国传统文化”（项目编号：2010JDXM009）的阶段性成果。

On Devotion to Goodness and the Chinese Nation’s Pursuit of Faith：An Intensive Study and Reading of Thoughts of Mencius

Xu Xiaoyue

Abstract Mencius’theory of human nature is none other than that of the unified virtues of heaven-human according to his advocacy of idea thatman is born with goodness and heaven is created with goodness.Mencius argues that self-cultivation hinges on more attention paid to goodness and fewer done to desires,and further stresses the importance of self-reflection of failures.The theory of goodness seeking and desirability constitutes the Mencius’theory of being good.The details of human’s goodness can be seen in the paragon behaviors illustrated and regulated by Mencius.His value orientation describes that one should devote himself to goodness even at cost of life,which is demonstrated by his discourse on the thoughts of life for justice and the invincible government by benevolence.The idea of benevolence and love that is representative of the theory of allminds for goodness,is bestowed to people by Mencius as a guide of pursuit of faith.The concept of way in Mencius will brighten the present-day and future China and world with its timeless,borderless,and everlasting charm.

Keywords Mencius.Nature.Human nature.Inherentgoodness.Intention.Goodness seeking.

儒家称孔子为“至圣”，称孟子为“亚圣”，他们创立的思想称为“孔孟之道”。而“孔孟之道”又与“老庄之学”共同构成中华传统文化的两大主体思想和价值观念。儒家一以贯之地“留意于仁义之际”，孟子即直言“亦有仁义而已矣”（《孟子·梁惠王上》，以下引《孟子》均只注篇名）。孟子之所以被唐代著名思想家韩愈推崇为“功不在禹下”，以及强调“自孔子没，独孟轲氏之传得其宗。故求观圣人之道者，必自孟子始”，原因正是在于孟子明确提出人性本善、人心向善、可欲谓善以及“人皆可以为尧舜”（《告子下》）等思想，从而奠定了中华民族的信仰追求。……