作　者：何怀宏
关键词：人性；善恶；政治秩序；荀子；性恶论；道德辨知；政治哲学
摘　要：

荀子的人性论以主张性恶著称。但这种性恶论是否真的如其所称的那样完全真实？其逻辑是否自洽？从荀子的诸多论述验之以人的知、情、欲三个部分，却明显透露出并非如此。对人性既然可以“化性起为”，就要有化的动力和根据。这些根据和动力也正是荀子承认的人普遍具有的道德辨知和同情的能力。这些能力在人性中可视作善端而存在。被荀子视为性恶的欲望，主要指过度和不加节制的欲望，而非一般的生欲。那么，荀子为什么还要极力主张一种性恶论呢？这与他对一般政治秩序的捍卫紧密相关。这种对“明分使群”的捍卫正是荀子对传统道德和政治哲学的一个特别有意义的贡献。但在特殊政治秩序方面，它和西方近代以来对人性估计不高的政治理论的主要趋势还是迥异的。

 

On Theory of Evil Nature and Political Order

An Analysis and Reinterpretation of Xunzi's Theory of Human Nature

He Huaihong（Zhengzhou University）

Abstract Xunzi is famous for his theory of original evil of human nature, but is human nature really as evil as he claims? Is his logic self-consistent? From Xunzi's many expositions, it is obvious that this is not the case. Since human nature can be "transformed into action", there must be a motivation and basis for transformation. And these foundations and motivations stem from the abilities of moral discernment and sympathy that Xunzi recognizes. These abilities exist in human nature as good deeds. The desire that Xunzi regarded as evil of nature also mainly refers to excessive and uncontrolled desire rather than general desire for life. As to why Xunzi insists on a theory of evil nature, the reason seems to be closely related to his defense of the general political order, which is a particularly meaningful contribution of Xunzi to traditional moral and political philosophy. In terms of special political order, it is still quite different from the main trend of western political theories which have maintained rather low expectation of human nature since modern times.

Key words human nature; good and evil; political order; Xunzi; theory of original evil of human nature; moral discernment; political philosophy

 

■作者简介 何怀宏，哲学博士，郑州大学哲学学院特聘首席教授，北京大学哲学系教授、博士生导师；河南 郑州 450001。

 

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