“公义”:中国古代的天下正义  

Righteousness:Justice of the World in Ancient China

作　　者：鲁西奇 Lu Xiqi

机构地区：[1]复旦大学历史学系,上海200433

出　　处：《文史哲》2024年第3期5-17,164,共14页Literature,History,and Philosophy

摘　　要：中国古代的“公义”,包括两层含义:一是君王所代表的“众人之公义”,即由君长所代表或宣示的、得到众人认同的认识、理念以及共同遵守的原则、规范;二是“天下之公义”,是天下之人共同认可、遵守的原则与规范。“公义”的基本内涵包括公共、公平与公正。“公共”的核心是“天下为公”,天下之人得“共有”“共享”天下,且为天下之事共同负责;“公平”的核心在于待人平等,各用其能,评价标准一致;“公正”的核心是正直,为人处事居中持正,无偏无倚。“公义”的“公天下”理念不仅为王朝国家及其兴亡更替提供了正当性,也是规范、约束统治者行为的重要根据;其“公平”理念则为政治平等、经济均平的诉求奠定了基础,并促使统治者尽可能维护政治参与的公共性与社会公平;其“公正”理念则影响了古代道德伦理体系的建构与发展,成为“为政”的道德标准之一。中国古代的“公义”发挥了政治正义与社会正义的作用,是具有普适价值的“天下正义”。Righteousness in ancient China has two meanings:the first is the“righteousness of all people”represented by the sovereign,referring to the understanding,idea,and principle and norm that were represented or proclaimed by the sovereigns,and were recognized by all people;and the second is the“righteousness of the world”,which was the principles and norms jointly recognized and observed by the people of the world,i.e.the common“righteousness”held by people in the world.Publicness,fairness,and justice were basic connotations of righteousness in ancient China.The core of publicness was the whole world is one community,and all people living in the world might jointly possess and use the resources of the world,and been jointly responsible for the affairs of the world.The core of fairness lied in treating others equally,using their own abilities,consistent evaluation standards,and selflessness.The core of justice was integrity,being upright in dealing with people and being impartial.The idea of the whole world being one community of righteousness in ancient Chinese not only provided legitimacy for dynastic states and their rise and fall,but also was an important basis for regulating and restraining the behavior of rulers;Its concept of“fairness”laid a logical foundation for the demand for political equality and economic equality,and urged rulers to maintain the publicity and social fairness of political participation as much as possible;Its concept of justice has greatly influenced the construction and development of the ancient moral and ethical system,and has become one of the moral standards of serving the government.Therefore,the righteousness of ancient China played the role of political justice and social justice,and in essence it was a kind of justice in the whole world with universal value.

关 键 词：公义 正义 普适价值 政权正当性 社会正义 

分 类 号：K22[历史地理—历史学] B21[历史地理—中国史] D092[哲学宗教—中国哲学]