先秦儒家和道家的生态伦理思想

自然和人为的关系问题,既是先秦儒家和道家讨论的中心论题,也是现代生态哲学的首要问题.儒家以仁为本,推己及人、成己成物,明确提出了仁民爱物、厚德载物,取物以时、取物不尽和养备动时、强本节用的生态伦理思想.而道家则师法自然,主张返朴归真,不为物役,明确提出了主而不宰、为而不恃、功成而不居和知常日明、知足不辱、知止不殆的生态伦理思想.相比之下,儒家的生态伦理思想更具有现实性和可行性.

The Ecological Ethic Thoughts of the Pre-Qin Confucians and Taoists

The relationship between nature and man is not only the central topic for pre-Qin Confucians and Taoists but also the top issue for modern ecological philosophy. Confucianism regards kindheartedness as the base, and then extends it to man and nature. It proposes that kindness should be given to man and nature, that things must be gained in their seasons and in this way they can become abundantly available, and that prudence must be advocated so that the resources may not be exhausted. Meanwhile, Taoism highly regards nature and advocates man should go back to nature to avoid his becoming its slave. Taoism also puts forward the thought of ecological ethics that man should play a major part in the world but not dominate nature, and that man must be aware of his possessions and be satisfied with them. In comparison, the Confucian thought of ecological ethics is more realistic and feasible.