孟子、荀子教育哲学思想比较研究

A Comparative Study of Mencius' and Xun Zi's Philosophy of Education

孟子和荀子是先秦儒家的重要代表人物。从表面上看，孟、荀思想存在很大差异：在天道观方面，孟子主张“天人合一”的人格天道，荀子主张“天人相分”的自然天道；关于人性的认识中，孟子认为人性善，荀子认为人性恶；在政治观上，孟子主张重王抑霸，荀子主张王霸兼用。但是，孟、荀的思想实质上同宗同源，从根本上是相近的。孟、荀以其整体论的方法论为指导建构教育思想体系，将其教育哲学思想与其哲学、政治思想紧密相连的同时，整个教育思想体系浑然一体。孟、荀始终坚守仁义，重视教育，强调教育对个人与社会发展的重要价值；既倡导教育以人为目的，又强调教育的社会目的：以人为工具促进社会发展。

Mencius and Xun Zi are important representatives of the Previous Qin Confucian. It appears that there is great difference between the philosophies of the two. As for the view of nature, Mencius held a human view of "the union of nature and man" ,while Xun Zi held a natural view of "the division of nature and man" ; as for the nature of human, Mencius believed the nature of human is good, while Xun Zi believed the nature of human is evil; as for political view, Mencius advocated Wangdao which hold the view of "plebeian being more important than the monarch" ,while Xun Zi advocated the combination of Wangdao and Badao which hold the view of "valuing citizen and respecting the monarch" . As a matter of fact, Mencius' and Xuan Zi's philosophy shared the same origin and is similar in nature. They both were guided by the methodology of holism and constructed the system of educational thoughts, which makes their educational philosophy closely connected with their philosophy and political thoughts and the system of educational thoughts as a whole. They stuck to righteousness and value education, emphasizing the important value of education to the development of individual and society. They advocated education should aim to cultivate people; and meanwhile, they emphasized education should serve the society, that is, to promote the development of society with human as instrument.