Research On The Thoughts Of Xunzi On Moral Education And Contemporary Value

The Chinese traditional culture has a far-reaching and extensive influence on theformation and development of our traditional moral system. The Pre-Qinphilosophy hundreds of various schools，as the source of ideology and culture in ourcountry，attaches great importance to social enlightenment function of the moral cultureand its special role played in the generation of perso nality，putting forward their ownviews which mostly elaborate the moral education in a direct or indirect way. Xunzi isthe last great master of the Pre-Qin Confucianism. He advocates the evil of humannature and places much emphasis on the constraints of external norms as well as theman-made reconstruction of the objective reality. It’s also a precious wealth withspecial value in Chinese traditional culture that he proposed a system of thoughts onmoral education.Based upon the research achievements of Xunzi’s education ideology in theacademic circle for the past few years，this paper studies the book Xunzi systematically，expounds the general objective and ideal goal as well as summarizes the main contentsand methods of his moral education. Furthermore, the paper also sheds light on the eravalue of his moraleducation ideology withregard to China’s moral educationduring thesocial transformation period.The paper argues that the basic goal of Xunzi’s moral education is to cultivate thenoble men who are cautious of their doings while the ideal goal is to cultivate the saintswho spare no efforts to do good things and lend a hand to others whenever in trouble.From the perspective of Xunzi，the goals mentioned above can only be achieved if wecarry out the education centering on the evil of human nature，namely the education ofthe view of honor and disgrace which distinguishes good from evil，the education ofetiquette as well as the concept of legality which emphasizes the propriety and law，theeducation of the ecological perspective which encourages human to control and makeuse of the natural laws actively and initiatively. In the methodology level, Xunziadvocates the combination of learning and thinking，through which we can get muchcloser to the noble men and saints. He also advocates the strengthening of moral practice which is proceeded orderly in the sequence of "smelling","seeing","knowing"and "implementing", while "implementing" is the effective path towards the ideal stateas is said, Implementing and knowing, you can be a saint. The importance ofaccumulating kind deeds together with that of self-existence and self-examination whichpromote the continually development of self are emphasized by him as well. He stillattaches great importance to the edification and influence of the environment and theenlightenment of music as is said， The more impressive and touching is the music，themore rapidly the men will be enlightened. Xunzi inherits Confucius’ education methodof teaching students in accordance of their aptitude and transcends beyond it byemphasizing that different education methods should be adopted aiming at differentpeople. Besides, he comprehends the education method of demonstrating with actualexamples in a more broad level and further put forward the viewpoints such as theclear flow with pure origin and the latter is originated from the former.A series of new situation, new problems and new challenges which appear atpresent in the construction process of China’s social morality can all obtain somebeneficial reference from Xunzi’s thoughts concerning the moral education. In thedetermination of the education goal，the individual difference of educate should be fullytaken into account as well as the hierarchy of the education targets. In the establishmentof the education orientation, the importance of acquired learning should be emphasizedmuch and the important role of moral shaping should be fully understood. In theselecting of the education method, it’s essential that several methods be adopted at themeantime. Besides, emphasis should be placed on the learning of thinking as much ason practice, on criticism as much as on self-examination, on precepts as much as onexamples. Thus, the education of outlook on life can be eventually united with theeducation of values，of the view concerning benefit and morality，of the view withregard to honor and disgrace, of the concept about legality and the education of theecological perspective organically so as to promote the construction of socialist moralsystem with Chinese characteristics，enhance the effect of moral education continuallyand upgrade the moral level of the whole society.