《论语》中的“小人”辨析

《论语》中“小人”出现了 ２４次,本文认为有 １７处意为普通百姓,仅有７处指称道德卑下、失德之人。孔子的“小人”概念基本上是继承了商周以来的现念,将其放置于社会层面,而非定位于道德层面。个别地方指称道德低下之人,反映了词义的新变化,但还不是当时普遍性的用法。

The Definition of the Term "Ordinary person" in the Analects of Confucius

The term "Ordinary Person" appeared 24 times in the Analects. among which, 17 times it means ordinary person, 7 times means evil people. Confucius adopted the basic concept of "Ordinary Person" of the Shang and Zhou periods and used it as a sociological term rather than an ethical one. On Some occasions this term was used to indicate a person of no virtue, This shade of meaning, however, reflected the new shift of its definition. And it was generally used.