法家人性思想辨析

对法家人性思想的讨论,历来以"性恶论"在中国道德思想史上得到定位。其实,这是臆想定式惹的祸。原典昭示,法家是自然需要人性论的推重者,以趋利避害为内容;在人性动态的历程里,最为活跃的因子是自为之心,而非为他之情,指望依靠人自身本性的发展来提升社会秩序的和谐程度显然是不可能的;从人的不得为非开始,设定法度遏制的功能,来调适人本性的动态发展的合理性,实现民众生活的富足、社会的强大和稳定。

An analysis on legalists' thought of human nature

The legalists' thought of human nature has long been defined as the doctrine of evil human nature,which is actually a groundless assumption.The classic works indicate that legalists are proponents of human nature theory which proposes to draw on the advantages and avoid disadvantages in doing things.They believe that in human life,the most active factor is caring for oneself instead of for others.It is obviously impossible to promote the harmonious development of social order by relying on people's human na...