荀子「性惡」說的重新詮

A New Interpretation of Xunzi’s claim that Human nature is bad (xing e)

荀子獨樹一幟的「性惡」主張，遭致後人論議乃至批判，史上對其學術評價，呈顯許多有趣的轉折。然諸多對荀子的攻擊與質疑，即在於對荀子「性惡」主張究竟果然如何上。因此，本文欲以澄清荀子「人之性惡」的意旨，進而論述荀子的哲學理論。荀子本身觀點是否妥當，或有再議之必要。但就荀子所陳述的理論而言，其內容首尾一貫，堪稱嚴謹。總之，荀子理論絕無自相矛盾處，其並不糊塗。

Xunzi’s infamous claim that human nature is bad has been discussed and criticized in China throughout history. Opinions on the value of his theory differ widely. But is the criticism fair? Does it make sense? The following paper wants to clarify the meaning of Xunzi’s claim on the badness of human nature and its position in Xunzi’s thought. It comes to the conclusion that Xunzi’s theory is in itself coherent and clear. Whether his basic assumption on human nature itself is correct, is another question which has to be discussed further discussed.