摘要
我们通常将《老子》第八十章中的“小国寡民”视为老子的政治理想,但是越来越多的学者对此提出质疑。从《老子》全书看,“小国寡民”的提法虽然只出现了一次,但该章内容能够在其他篇章中得到呼应。老子主张通过“致虚”“守静”把握万物的本真情态,既“万物并作”又“各复归其根”。人类社会的理想状态也应是复归于“朴”,“小国寡民”的素朴状态正是社会发展(“作”)之后的复归,因此,这一章所描绘的应是老子的理想政治形态。万物的复归以“道”为根据,在人类社会中则需要君主发挥“辅万物之自然”的作用。“小国寡民”中出现的一系列“使”正是君主作用的体现,“小国寡民”一章也是“辅万物之自然”的无为之治的体现。而针对当时的社会现实,老子还设想了一条由“大国”出发构建天下秩序的途径,“小国寡民”和大国思想并不冲突。
The quotation"a little state with a small population"from Chapter 8o of Laozi is widely recognized as a crystallization of Laozi's political ideals.However,a growing number of scholars are reexamining this prevailing interpretation.It is mentioned just once in Laozi,but its spirit permeates the work,with kindred concepts threaded throughout the other chapters."The state of vacancy should be brought to the utmost degree,and that of stillness guarded with unwearying vigor".Laozi espouses them as pathways to understand the true nature of all things,encapsulated by the ideas that"all things alike go through their processes of activity"and"each of them returns to its root".The simplicity of"a little state with a small population"symbolizes the return following the evolution of society and this is the ideal political model envisioned by Laozi.The return of all things hinges on Dao,and in human civilization,the ruler is tasked with the duty of"facilitating the natural development of all things".The concept of"a little state with a small population"elaborates on the governance of non-interference by"facilitating the natural development of all things",Reflecting on the social milieu of his time,Laozi also envisioned governance principles for a"great state".His insights for"a little state with a small population"and for a"great state"are not in conflict.
出处
《史学月刊》
北大核心
2024年第10期128-136,共9页
Journal of Historical Science
关键词
小国寡民
老子
政治理想
无为之治
天下秩序
A Little State with a Small Population
Laozi
Political Ideal
Governance of Non-interference
Order of All under Heaven
