美德倫理與後果主義：重探儒墨之是非──評萬百安《早期中國哲學中的美德倫理與後果主義》

Virtue Ethics and Consequentialism：the Divergences Between Confucianism and Mohism

萬百安《早期中國哲學中的美德倫理與後果主義》是英語世界以美德倫理學解讀早期儒學的一部頗具代表性的作品。該書以美德倫理學與後果主義以及特殊主義與普遍主義來判分早期儒學與墨家哲學，對二者的理論結構及其特色有十分清晰的敘述。萬著有很強的方法論意識，注重概念辨析和哲學論證，很好地示範了如何以哲學的方式研究中國古代思想，其所提供的觀照儒、墨兩家的整體性理論框架，以及對一些具體問題的深入辨析，如有關孟子哲學中「智」德、「擴充」觀念的討論等，均頗具啟發性。當然，如何定位儒家倫理學以及理解儒墨之是非，乃是很具理論挑戰性的課題，萬著的視角和立場自有其限度，值得進一步反省和討論。

Van Norden’s Virtue Ethics and Consequentialism in Early Chinese Philosophy is a representative work in the English-speaking world interpreting early Confucianism through the lens of virtue ethics. The book provides a highly clear description of the theoretical structures and characteristics of early Confucianism and Mohism philosophy, distinguishing them through the distinction of virtue ethics and consequentialism, or particularism and universalism. Van Norden demonstrates a strong methodological consciousness, emphasizing conceptual analysis and philosophical argumentation, effectively showing how to study ancient Chinese thought in a philosophical manner. His holistic theoretical framework for understanding Confucianism and Mohism, along with in-depth analyses of specific issues such as discussions on“wisdom”virtue and the concept of“expansion”within Mencius’s philosophy, are insightful. However, the question of how to position Confucian ethics and understand the Controversies between Confucianists and Moists remains a theoretically challenging issue. Van Norden’s perspective has his limitations, warranting further reflection and discussion.