本文從這問題出發:「一本論到底是戴震對《孟子》的詮釋,還是他自己獨特的思想?」通過與孟子「一本」之說和程明道「一本論」的對比,發現戴震「一本論」含有形上學的意義,乃孟子「一本」之說所無,戴震「一本論」有肯定、否定兩面的主述,程明道「一本論」只有否定的表述。可見戴震「一本論」是他個人的創見。戴震「一本論」所肯定表述的,是「陰陽氣化」的基本原理;各種獨特的「一本」論斷就在這基本原理的基礎上共同構成戴震「一本論」豐富而複雜的內容。此外,這基本原理還有評價性的意義,把「二本」之論中的負面價值純爲正面,使從自然到道德的途徑從對治轉爲發展。
Is Tal Chun's ”Theory of One-Origin” an interpretation of Mencius, or is it Tai Chun's original thought? This question is the starting point of this essay. Through a comparison with Mencius and Chen Ming Tao (another proponent of ”Theory of One-Origin”), we can conclude that Tai Chun's theory is original, since Mencius' theory lacks metaphysical significance and Chen's theory lacks a positive expression of its fundamental principle. The content of this positive principle is ”yin-yang chi-hwa”, Tai's various ”One-Origin' assertions are. founded on this principle and together constitute the backbones of his theory. Moreove, Tai employs this fundamental principle evaluatively to transform the negative poles of the ”Two-Origins' assertions into positive ones, and this in turn leads to a transformation of the path from nature to moral from reversal into development.