《黄帝四经》“刑德相养”思想探析

“刑德”思想是《四经》(即《黄帝四经》)道德思想的必然组成部分,其渊源在老子的“法令”、“道纪”。它不仅昭示了法度产生的问题,认为产生于现实社会需要的法度须以“道”为依归;而且回答了何谓法度的问题,告诉我们法度是“正”的象征,是“明曲直”的武器,法度的基础在人的需要的满足,在“刑德”的关系,主张先“刑”后“德”的价值取向,显示的是以“德”为依归的方向,昭示了用“有刑”实现“无刑”的理想追求。最后不得不说的是,在道德问题上,存在以“义”和“宗”为标准来依归法度的运思,这无疑是氏族宗法血缘意识的反映,其意义是消极的。

On "penalty and morality support each other" proposed in the Four Classics of Huangdi

The thought of “penalty and morality” is the indispensable part of moral thinking of the Four Classics of Huangdi. Originating from Laozi’s “laws and decrees”, it not only tells us the beginning of law(moral standard) coming from the needs of the real society must follow the “Dao”(morality), but also answers that law is the sign of “Zheng”(upright) and the weapon of differentiating right and wrong. Meanwhile, it indicates the base of law is the satisfaction of people’s needs. In relationship of penalty and morality, it maintains the value of penalty first, which shows morality is the direction. Then it makes clear the ideal of using penalty to reach the goal of no penalty. It should be pointed out that, however, the thought of taking loyalty and clan relation as standards of law is a reflection of patriarchal consciousness which is negative for morality.