争议下的墨家尚同之说:“民约”还是“专制”?

由梁启超民约之说而引起的墨家尚同说之争,其实质是“民约”论与“专制”论的认识分歧。民约论者认为墨家学说含有民约(义同民主)的因素,专制论者则认为墨家尚同说是一种十分危险的专制极权思想。这场学术争论既有着各个时代学术思潮的深刻影响,亦有墨家学说及《墨子》一书本身的一些因素。透过这场学术之争,应该认识到,以尚同说为核心之一的墨家思想,其实是墨子构建的一个理想国。这个理想国,墨子用一生践行之,这体现了墨子不仅在思想上具有着卢梭一般浪漫的情怀,而且在行动上又有着罗兰夫人那样的无畏勇气。
The debate over the Mohist theory of shangtong 尚同(conforming upward)triggered by Liang Qichao’s explanations for social contract actually reflects the differences between the theory of social contract and that of autocracy. Advocates for social contract hold that the theory of shangtong is somewhat similar to that of social contract, while supporters of autocracy believe that the theory of shangtong is tyrannical and totalitarian in essence. This academic debate is profoundly influenced by the academic trends in different periods. Also, the ambiguity shown in the Mohist thought and the book entitled Mozi 墨子 accounts for why the debate can last for nearly a century. Through this long-lasting debate, we should realize that the essence of Mo Zi’s theory was to build an ideal kingdom based on the principle of shangtong and he devoted all his life to the practice of such an ideal. All this shows that Mo Zi is characterized by Rousseau’s romanticism in spirit and Manon Phlipon Roland’s courage in action