墨家兼愛思想之嬗變──從「兼」字涵義談起

Transformation of Moism's Thinking of Jian Ai - From the Meaning of the Word “Jian”

「兼愛」為墨家重要思想，然在墨學發展演變歷程中，前、後期兼愛思想的內涵有所轉變，包括：一、就涵義言：前期墨家以「兼」字兼具合併與相互二義，前者謂天「兼愛」天下，後者言人我彼此「兼相愛」；後期則以「兼」為整全義，「兼愛」指個人周愛人類整體。二、就價值根源言：前期墨家主張兼愛思想根源於天志；後期則以其出於個人理性意志。三、就實施範圍言：前期之兼愛範疇自可涵蓋全天下；後期則運用邏輯推理證成其愛之周遍性。四、就志功觀言：前期以「兼相愛」、「交相利」並舉；後期則主張「志功為辯」及絕對利他主義。五、就差等觀言：前期尚無差等意識；後期則言「愛無差等」及「倫列」。可見前、後期墨家兼愛思想迥然不同的面貌與內涵。

Jian ai (Universal Love) is an important thinking of Moism. However, during the developmental transformation of Moism, the meaning of Jian ai thinking in the early period underwent chang in the late period. 1) In terms of meaning: the word jian in the early period of Moism denoted two meanings, that is incorporation and mutuality. The former suggested that Heaven loves all the people around the world, while the latter suggested that all the people will love one another. In the late period of Moism, Jian represented the ubiquitous. Jian ai referred to the situation where all the individuals love all human beings. 2) In terms of value source: in the early period, Moism suggested that Jian ai thinking originated from the will of Heaven. In the late period, it suggested that Jian ai thinking originated from the will of individual rationality. 3) In terms of the scope of implementation: Jian ai in the early period certainly covered the whole world, while that in the late period used logical reasoning to verify the universality of love. 4) In term of Zhigong Guan (Concept of Will and Merit), in the early period, Moism advocated both the concepts of Jian xiang ai and Jiao xiang li. In the late period, Moism advocated the concepts of Zhigong wei Bian (Will and Merit as Verified) and absolute altruism. 5) In terms of Chadeng Guan (Concept of Differing Rank), in the early period, there was no awareness about different levels in Moism. In the late period, Moism advocated the concepts of Ai wu Chadeng (Love Without Differing Rank) and Lunlie (Human Relation and Example). It can be concluded that the appearance and meaning of the Jian ai mode of thinking of Moism in the early period was completely different from the concept formed in the late period.