略论孔子与法治

孔子的法律思想 ,后人冠以似乎万古不变的定论——人治思想。在法学界无不确认孔子的法律思想是一种人治思想 ,这是一个历史的误会。孔子的法律思想是一种丝毫不亚于亚里士多德的法治思想。孔子所主张的“礼”就是法 ,而“刑”是惩罚手段。孔子主张人人遵守礼 ,就是主张人人 (包括君主在内 )遵守法 ,这难道不是法治思想吗 ?孔子主张“为政以德”、“德主刑辅”,并不是不重视法治 ,而是对统治者品质素质的要求 :“为政在人”的主张 ,并不是人治 ,而是法治的内在要求。

Confucius and Ruling by Law in Brief

Confucius has been wrongly convicted as the originator of the legal idea " ruling by man" by his descendents for centuries. The author of this paper believes that this is a historical misunderstanding. Confucius is no less a great advocator of the idea of " ruling by law" than Aristotle. The "courtesy" he so strongly advocated is no other than the law itself. And "penalty" is a way of legal punishment. "Everybody abides by courtesy" is equal for everybody, abides by the law.