荀子对孔礼的损益及其历史影响

礼是荀子思想的核心。荀子的礼对孔子的礼多有“损益”,显示出一个思想家的独特创造性。这一切集中体现在其“明分”、“尚贤使能”、“隆法重礼”的礼法一体礼学思想中。荀子的礼学,一方面为儒学的发展开辟了新的通道,使之开始逐渐摆脱困境而获得更为广阔的发展空间;另一方面,因过分强调礼义法度的外在强制性,其礼学思想最终沦为专制统治的工具,奠定了专制主义的思想基础。

The Adjustment and Transcendency over the Propriety of Confucius and the Influence on History Made by Xunzi

The kernel of Xun Zi's thoughts was propriety,which developed from those of Confucius.This adjustment and transcendency were mainly embodied through his ritual learning of "making social distinctions clear ","trusting on virtuous man of capacity" and "honoring rites and valuing law",which on the one hand offered a special contribution to the development of Confucianism,and which on the other hand became such the instrument of autocracy that it laid foundations for totalitarianism because of the strong emphasis placed on the compulsory functions of the standard of propriety,righteousness and law.