論孟子的人生哲學

A Discussion of Mencius' Philosophy of Life

劉周堂(Zhou-Tang Liu)

《哲學與文化》 24卷1期 (1997/01) Pp. 53-60

https://doi.org/10.7065/MRPC.199701.0053

摘要

本文認為孟子人生哲學具有兩個重要特點，一是特別注重培養高尚獨立的人格，並認為這種人格的培養需在長期的道德實踐中孜孜不倦地去修煉達成，這就要求人們要樹立遠大高尚的理想，充分發揮自己的主觀能動性，堅持持之以恒的修養精神，去努力培養自己的浩然之氣，以造就高尚獨立的人格。一是十分强調個人對社會的責任和義務，認為士、君子對於解決現實人生的困惑和社會的苦難負有不可推卸的責任，理應具有深沉博大的憂患意識和成己成物的强烈責任感。但其人生哲學中的這兩個特點本身又構成了尖銳的矛盾對立。因為中國古代社會不可能替士大夫提供既充分尊重他們的高尚獨立人格，又能讓其充分實現平治天下的理想的歷史舞台，而孟子又把人格尊嚴看得此兼濟天下更為重要，從而使得孟子實現自己人生價值的道路變得非常狹窄，限制了其人生價值的實現。但孟子强調人格的尊嚴和獨立卻可以使人擺脫物欲的引誘和束縛，保持個人道德世界的自我完善，在商品經濟發展的今天尤其具有重要意義。他所强調的社會責任感千百年來一直激勵著中國廣大的知識分子與國家同呼吸，共命運。

關鍵字

孟子 ； 人生哲學 ； 士 ； 君子 ； 人格 ； 憂患意識

並列摘要

This article would like to put forth the theroy that Mencius' philosophy of life has two important characteristics. The first being the cultivation of a noble, independent character. The cultivation of such a character is in the long term, unceasing pursuit of a moral life This requires a person to establish high ideals., in order to sufficiently realize one's inner potential and fostering the proper spirit to tirelessly pursue one's ”vast passion spirit” 【浩然之氣， hao ran zhi qi】, thus becoming a noble, independent character. The second heavily emphasizing one's role in society of responsibility and service. Mencius considered ”the gentleman's” 【君子 jun zi】 role was one that would not allow him to shirk the responsibility of assuaging the insecurities of the common man and the difficulties of society at large. ”A gentlemen' was duty bound to solemnly allieviate societal sufferings and to earnestly enhance a sense of responsibility in himself and others. However, these two points in Mencius' philosophy of life, seem to have produced a sharp paradox. This is because, in ancient Chinese philosophy, officials found independent personalities expendable in their effort to procure the necessary stage to realize the ideal of Chinese philosophy in peace under heaven”. 【平天下 ping tian xia】 Mencius' paradox was that he advocated the development of this kind of individual character over this idea of ordering all under heaven. This would seem to narrow the scope of his value system and limit this system's chance of realization. But Mencius emphasized that a person's independence and respect for the individual could help people discard desire for the material temptations that bind one in life. Thusly perserving human morality and creating perfect moral individuals. In today's consumer-minded world, this is still an important lesson to consider. Mencius' emphasis of a societal sense of responsibilityis still, after all these centuries, breathing life into our country's intellectual and collective soul.

並列關鍵字

Mencius ； Philosophy of Life ； Scholar ； Gentleman ； Character ； to be Socially Conscious