《孟子·万章下四》中的两个疑难

Two Difficulties in Mencius: The Fourth Chapter of Wanzhang

摘要: 《孟子•万章下四》这一节，从文本上来看存在着两个疑难。孟子在说明“恭”的论述中有着接受不义之物的问题和对诸侯与强盗采取双重评价标准的嫌疑，这与孟子的一贯态度存在着区别和矛盾，前者不符合孟子遵义取利的义利观，后者有别于孟子以德抗位的君子人格，这就易使读者产生对本节的论证和孟子态度的疑惑。在学术史上也有一些对此节的质疑和解读。但如果将视野不局限于这一节的文本，采取经权观的态度，从孟子整体的学说和更抽象的道德价值观分析，则可以给出可行的解读和回应。从义取观来说，不义之物在不可不取时可以取，诸侯正常的取之于民是合义的；从经权观来说，道德原则在现实的运用可以有“权变”。

Abstract: From the textual point of view, there are two difficulties in the section of Mencius: The Fourth Chap-ter of Wanzhang. Mencius explained that “Gong” has the problem of accepting injustice and the sus-picion of adopting double evaluation standards for princes and robbers. This is different and con-tradictory with Mencius’s consistent attitude. The former does not conform to Mencius’s righteous-ness and theory of profit and justice, the latter is different from Mencius’s gentleman personality, which is a virtue to resist the throne, which easily makes readers doubt about the argument in this section and Mencius’s attitude. There are also some doubts and interpretations of this section in academic history. However, if the field of vision is not limited to the text of this section, and the atti-tude of Jingquan view is adopted, a feasible interpretation and response can be given from the analysis of Mencius’ overall doctrine and more abstract moral values. From the perspective of righteousness, injustice can be taken when it is indispensable, and it is reasonable for the princes to take it from the people normally; from the perspective of economics and power, moral principles can be “contingent” in the practical application. It is undeniable that Mencius did have some loop-holes in argumentation in this section, and the Confucian view of Jingquan would also face the di-lemma of separating theory from reality, all of which led to the emergence of difficulties in this sec-tion.