Regarding the debate of xing(性)and wei(伪)or that of liyi(礼义)and xingqing 性情 in Xunzi's thought,there are two main points of views in current research:one asserts the consistence of xing and wei,and the other holds the distinction between xing and wei.Both presuppose the dichotomy of xing and wei,based on the foundation human nature(人性),a conceptional construction of the subjectivity of human beings rather than the reality of human existence.In fact,the debate of xing and wei as a question,transcending the dichotomous structure,can only be raised by reducing the conceptional construction to the original view sight of emotional experience.The debate of xing and wei stems from Xunzi's naming of xing:The reason for the existence of life is called xing(生之所以然者谓之性).The desires inherent in human beings can potentially lead to ethical consequences such as conflict,disorder,and poverty.However,the cognitive and evaluative abilities inherent in human beings also allow for the recognition of the evil in these ethical consequences,as well as the ability to make good judgments on the basis of pseudo-originated rituals and righteousness.Therefore,the concept of xing can be understood on two levels:one being desires and the other being cognitive knowledge.In the judgment of cognitive knowledge,desires are considered evil while the pseudo is considered good.Thus,evil desires become the evaluative significance of xing,while cognitive knowledge represents the cognitive significance of xing.How does the judgment of evil desires and false goodness arise from cognitive knowledge of xing(性知)?It is precisely through the pursuit of the potentiality of cognitive knowledge of xing that the agreement on xing as the rea-son for existence is achieved.Returning to the harmonious and compassionate experience that arises from xing,it is through the comprehension and reflection on this experience that the subject's cognitive knowledge of xing is estab-lished.In conjunction with desires as its objects of understanding,they form a subject-object relationship,thereby con-stituting the dual meaning of xing.Consequently,cognitive knowledge of xing is able to make value judgments re-garding evil desires and false goodness.Only by returning to a harmonious emotional experience can the agreement on the dual meaning of xing be established.In the judgment of cognitive knowledge of xing,the legitimacy of the pseudo in liyi is thus established.Huaxing(化性)means to restore the agreement on xing within the perspective of emotions,while qiwei(起伪)means to establish liyi based on emotional comprehension and reflection.Only through the emotional experiences of love and devotion to righteousness can cognitive knowledge of xing make judgments on liyi.In this way,ethical prin-ciples(道义)are established based on the comprehension and reflection derived from the emotions of compassion and love.This forms the foundation of li(礼)and leads to the establishment of legitimacy in liyi.The primordial emotion of compassion and love precedes the agreement on xing and the construction of liyi in the language of poetry that has been contemplated before.Xunzi's the language of poetry and taking it to regulate ex-press that li,as a means of controlling desires and achieving social governance,obtain legitimacy and appropriateness through poetic discourse.The foundation for this legitimacy is ethical principles.The language of poetry expresses comprehension of Tao,and through reflection on ethical principles,cognitive knowledge of xing establishes ethical principles as the basis of li and constructs and practices its norms.The practice of li is guided by Yue in order to achieve the effect of resolving tensions and restoring harmony.Po-etry and music,as the starting point and the end point of li,are inherently unified.Poetry's discourse gives rise to ethical principles,and intellectual understanding and reflection on ethical principles contribute to the construction of ritual.Music serves as the utilization of ritual,allowing individuals to experience benevolence and gain insights into ethical principles during the practice of ritual,thus achieving the effect of resolving conflicts and restoring harmony.Poetry,ritual,and music form a circular relationship,with Xunzi's thoughts and Confucius'belief in the importance of poetry,the establishment of ritual,and the realization through music being in line with each other.This embodies the unique poetic attributes of Confucian ethical philosophy.
NETL
NSTL
万方数据
