在禽兽与圣人之间——略论孟子的主体定位观

孟子对"人"的定位,既是其思想体系的逻辑起点,也是我们走进孟子思想体系的认识起点.通过"人禽之辨"与"圣我之辨",孟子断定人在本质上不同于禽兽,但每一个人又与圣人属于同类.这一主体定位,既突出了人的绝对优越性,也表现了人的普遍平等性,同时蕴涵了人在禽兽与圣人之间丰富而又持久的两极性张力.把握孟子的主体定位观,将有助于我们切入孟子的思想体系,领悟孟子的文化基本精神,洞观孟子与中国文化丰富而又深刻的联系.

Between Beast and Sage--On Mencius' Idea of Subject Orientation

Mencius' orientation of human beings serves as the starting point of his system of thoughts as well as that of our recognition of his system. Based on his ifferentiation between man and beast and differentiation between sage and me he concluded that man was different in essence from beasts; meanwhile man and beasts were of the same category. This orientation stresses the absolute superiority of human beings and also shows their common equality, disclosing the rich and everlasting two-extreme tension of man between beasts and sages. A knowledge of his orientation is of great help in our understanding of the basic cultural spirit of Mencius and the close and profound relationship between him and Chinese culture.