从心之所生为性到“生之所以然者谓之性”——论荀子对孟子人性论的因革

摘要

孟子承认万物皆有其性，但不以生理现象与欲望等作为性的本质，而从心之所生来规定人性。荀子受传统即生言性论影响，沿着孟子开拓的路向对性作了更为明确的界定。其“生之所以然者谓之性”说是对孟子观点的理论概括与提升，也是在传统“即生言性”说基础上的一次质的飞跃。荀子把性与伪相对而言，否定心具有自我立法、自我完善的功能，但认为心可以接受后天习染而趋善。%　　Mencius admitted that all things had their nature, but thought physiological phenomenon and desire were not the essence of nature. Mencius defined nature that notion birth makes the heart. Xunzi was affected by traditional nature idea, but Perfected Mencius’ idea. Xunzi thought the man-made was a relative concept with nature and he denied the heart’s function of Self-legislation and self-improvement, but he believed the heart can tend to the kindness after education.