伦:中国人之思想与社会的共同基础

“伦”字及其含义究竟属中国传统社会思想还是社会构成方式，以及它在中国社会学研究中占有什么地位，存有许多重要而未尽的讨论空间。作者首先梳理了近代以来中国重要思想家及社会学家的见解，尤其是他们对“五伦”的认识，以此廓清“伦”的社会学含义。在此基础之上，作者接着通过与西方社会学中关于自我、角色、社会网络、社会分层及不平等等方面的比较与对话，提出了“伦”自身所包含的意义、公理、相关定理及其现实社会运行与变异。对“伦”之社会学含义的层层解读，有助于明晰中国人与中国社会的基本特质、相应的运行方式及其机制，并形成一种解读中国人与中国社会的新途径。

Lun: The Common Basis of Chinese Thoughts and Society

The character Lun and its meaning have been subjected to many discussions and unanswered questions. Is it part of the Chinese traditional thoughts or does it echo the framework of Chinese traditional society? What is its relevance to the modern Chinese sociological inquires? This study reviews the works of traditional Chinese thinkers and modern sociologists, especially their views on Five Lun in order to gain a sociological explanation of the character. Rooted in Chinese traditional understanding of the relationship between Heaven and Man, and between man and man, lun defines individual roles in social hierarchy and stratum. Confucianism functions to legitimize and normalize this social arrangement. By comparing modern sociological concepts of self, role, social exchange, social networks, and social stratification and inequality to the character, this paper discusses lun as a self-evident social reality and its presumptive principles in traditional society, as well as its function and adaptation in modern society. In author's opinion, Confucian ethics adhere to the social structure of traditional Chinese society, and therefore, promote harmony, stability and order. In contrast, the Western thoughts of equality and justice reject the acceptance of social reality and thus encourage progress. Through a close examination of lun, a better understanding and a new way of interpretation of the characteristics of Chinese people and society can be reached.