梁啟超(1873~1929)一生心繫國家民族盛衰,對於國民素質的提高念茲在茲。他相信只要「新民」就會有新制度、新政府、新國家。梁啟超提出新民思想,不是緣於一時興會,而是長期積鐘蘊,不斷思索、不斷建構的過程。他不僅揭露了民族的劣根性,鞭撻其根源,闡述重塑新國民、建設新國家的必要性,也展示出其對理想人格的設計,以及其對造成新國民、新國家途徑的探索。本文以為梁啟超的新民思想,從維新變法、東渡日本、新大陸之遊,到民國肇建後從政講學時期,是持續創發演變的歷程。在群體的意識上,他有著由嚮往「《公羊》三世」,而「民族主義」,而「國家主義」,而「世界國家主義」的不同。在新民之旨上,他有著由「保國」、「保種」,而「競存於世」,而「善盡世界文明之責」的差異。在新民之道上,他也有著由上而下,政府藉教育人民推動政治革新,以求國民的變革,到由下而上,「民之各自新」的轉換。吾人對於梁啟超新民思想的認識,不能只停留在《新民叢報》的《新民說》,而忽略了它不斷拓展、不斷深入、不斷更新的發展演變。
Liang Chi-chao (1873-1929) was concerned about the rise and fall of his country and people in all his life, and was concerned about the elevation of the quality of citizens. He believed that the creation of new citizens will result in a new system, a new government, and a new country. His transformation of the national personality and the presentation of new thoughts were indeed not an instant inspiration but through a long process of thinking and construction. It not only exposed the mean nature of the people, beating the origin of the nature and explaining the necessity of a new citizen and a new country, but exhibited the design of an ideal personality and his exploration of creating a citizen and a new country. This article thinks that his thoughts of a new citizen with a transformed personality has been changing with innovative ideas through different stages-the Wei-sin National System Transformation, traveling eastwards to Japan, a travel to new mainland, and his political career and teaching career in the era of the ROC. From the perspective of collective consciousness, his thoughts has been shifted from an admiration of ”Gongyang third generation,” to nationalism, and to world nationalism. In addition, in terms of a new citizen, his thoughts have been changed from preservation of a nation and its seed to competition in this world, and then to bearing responsibilities of the world culture. Therefore, we point out that our understanding of his thoughts of a new citizen with a transformed personality should extend from the theory of a new citizen presented in Sinmingchungbao to its constant evolution, expansion, deepening, and renewing.