“止於至善”：仁與人性內在關係的哲學證明

Abstract

Ever since Confucius claimed that “the benevolent is always content with benevolence”, the concept of benevolence has enjoyed a long-standing importance within the Confucian philosophical and cultural tradition. Within Confucian thought, as seen in the writings of Mencius, for example, benevolence is believed to have an intrinsic connection with human nature, as goodness comes from human nature and enjoys an intrinsic connection with moral metaphysics. Despite its baseline significance, this paper argues that benevolence reached its peak position as the core of a Confucian moral metaphysics in the thought of the Cheng Brothers and Zhu Xi., who argued that benevolence belongs to the Heavenly principle and is a unconditional impulse shared in common by all humanity. Following the Cheng brothers and Zhu Xi's creative interpretations, Confucian theories of benevolence have enjoyed significant interest, and seeking for goodness has become one of the great themes of Confucian thought. This article contends that it is largely the Cheng brothers’ and Zhu Xi's view of benevolence as “com[ing] from the heavenly principle” which has laid the foundation for the subsequent development of Confucian liberalism and its ethical base.