论孔子伦理理性的宗教意蕴——兼评孔子思想的理性与宗教性的矛盾说

学术界有一种流行的观点,认为孔子思想中存在着理性与宗教性矛盾,这值得商榷.孔子思想的伦理理性和宗教性之间具有内在的统一性.孔子把天看成是道德客观性、普遍性的基础,力图通过对天的敬畏情感来唤醒人们的道德自觉意识;他认为仁德践行是达到天人合一的途径.孔子对周时期的鬼神信仰文化作进一步的理性改良,注重发挥鬼神祭祀活动中的道德教化和陶冶人的道德情感的作用.作为轴心时代的核心人物,孔子在使原始宗教理性化、伦理化过程中起了不可替代的作用,这一点以往似乎没有充分认识到.

Religiousness in the Rational Dimensions of Confucius' Ethics: A Critique of the Popular Belief of There Being a Rational vs Religious Contradiction in Confucius' Ideology

The popular belief that there is a rational vs religious contradiction in Confucius' ideology is open to question.This paper argues that there is an inherent rational/religious unity in Confucius' theorization of ethics.Confucius regarded Heaven as the basis of moral objectivity and universality and attempted to awaken a conscious moral awareness in people's hearts with feelings of awe and veneration towards Heaven.He believed that benevolence was the right approach to harmonization between man and Heaven.He initiated rational reforms of the cultural beliefs of ghosts and spirits during the Zhou Dynasties and emphasized the role of worshipping activities in ethical education and cultivation of moral sentiments.As a core figure of his time,Confucius played an irreplaceable role in rational and ethical reforms of the primitive religions.This,however,has not received due recognition in the study of Confucius.