荀子天人观的四重内涵

荀子所谓“天”,多属自然之天.在他看来,天生万物、天道奇妙,但天道自然,并无人格意志.而且天道与人道具有本质区别,人类应该做到“知天”与“不求知天”的辩证统一:一方面,人类缺乏足够能力,亦无必要,汲汲于解释天道运行的终极根源;另一方面,为了自身的福祉,人类必须充分发挥主观能动性,了解天道、顺应天道、利用天道.荀子有时也借天道的权威论证社会制度的合法性,为了强调礼制的作用,他甚至认为完善的人间礼制可以影响天道的运行,这显然与其天人相分的主体思想背道而驰.

The Views on the Relationship between Nature and Human Beings of Xunzi

In Xunzi’s theory,nature refers to the laws of nature.All creatures and objects are created by nature,rather than human beings.The laws of nature are quite different from the laws of human beings.Human beings should know about nature,but not necessarily seek to know nature.On one hand,human beings are not capable enough to comprehensively understand the fundamental principles of how nature evolves.On the other hand,for their own well-beings,human beings should give full play to their subjective initiative,understand the laws of nature and apply them.Xunzi demonstrated the legality of social system on the basis of the laws of nature.To emphasize the importance of ritual,he even argues that perfect ritual can affect the evolution of nature,which is quite different from his thought that nature and human beings should be separated.