中国传统"德治"思想的特点及其形成的社会基础

在中国传统政治思维中,"德治"思想无疑是居于核心地位的.历代统治者从巩固政权的需要出发,不断强化道德在意识形态中的作用,重视道德教化和人自身的道德修养,重德轻罚.传统德治思想的这种特点的形成有其深厚的社会基础.中国传统的社会结构是以血缘为纽带,政治与伦理高度统一的集权社会.家国一体,政权与族权结合,使得人们的一切活动都被纳入到封建纲常伦理关系之中,使中国的政治文化从"德治"走向"人治".

Ancient China's Government by Virtue:its Features and Social Context

The author argues that the government by virtue has been the core of ancient China's political thoughts and, reinforced by the ruler's effort to promote the public self-discipline so as to solidify his power, become so deeply imbedded in the society at all walks of life, from family, clan through nation that national authority and family authority were unified to form a nation where family ethics was also the criterion for government and the national rule held the same power over his subjects as the household head did over his family members.