儒家普遍主義與海外華人經驗

Confucian Universalism and the Chinese Diaspora Experience

本文所要論證的是儒家思想家（孔子、孟子、荀子）都相信普遍人性，並因而信奉某些普遍道德價值。本文中的「儒家普遍主義」指的就是儒家贊同普遍人性和普遍道德價值的思想，而海外華人的生活經歷大抵支持了儒家的這種普遍主義。本文同時論證儒家的普遍價值和自由主義的普遍價值構成了普世價值整體的兩個不同部分。面對當今世界，它們可以互相合作、互相補充。一方面，儒家所提倡的德性和道德原則在一個民主社會中得以更好踐行，儒家普遍價值之充分實現以自由主義的核心價值（人權、民主、自由、平等）之通行為前提；另一方面，儒家所提倡的普遍價值有助於糾正民主社會中過度的個人主義，因而對於建立更平衡、和諧的家庭與社區產生積極作用。不過，本文在考慮這兩方面時，更多地討論了為何儒家傳統必須吸收自由主義的普遍價值、為何在非民主社會儒家理想不可能實現。

This paper argues that major Confucian thinkers such as Confucius, Mencius, and Xunzi all believed in the universality of human nature and therefore were all committed to universal moral values. In this essay, ”Confucian Universalism” refers to the Confucian belief in a common human nature and universal moral values. Such Confucian universalism is supported to a great degree by experiences of the Chinese diaspora. This paper also argues that in the contemporary world, the universal values of Confucianism and liberalism can work together and complement each other. They are two parts of the totality of universal values: on the one hand, Confucian virtues and moral principles can be practiced better in a democratic society than in a non-democratic society, and the fuller realization of Confucian universal values presupposes the prevalence of core liberal values such as human rights, democracy, liberty, and equality; on the other hand, Confucian universal values can help overcome excessive individualism in a democratic society and therefore play a positive role in building more balanced and harmonious families and communities there. Although this paper considers both of these aspects, its discussion focuses on why the Confucian tradition must incorporate liberal universal values and why the Confucian ideal cannnot be realized in a non-democratic society.