中国传统伦理道德对现代社会的影响

We can see the changes and development of Chinese politic, economy and civilization through the history of ethics’ development. Chinese ancient ethics reflects the national spirit and characters. In a word, Chinese ancient ethics has far-reaching significant profound and lasting influences.

The first one is humanism thought. This thought is the cream of the traditional Chinese culture. Under the guiding of this thought, wisdom emperors treasured the fruits of labor, observed and studied the living conditions and attain the people’s trust. What’s more, the government is magnanimous and tolerant in academic and cultural policy. As the saying goes, the people are the fundamental, for example, “not only can water float a boat, it can sink it also” and “who gain the common aspiration of the people, who can rule the world”.

Today, the government still insists this thought and pays more attention to the people, love and protect the subjects and take the road of common prosperity. With the influence of this thought, our country takes some

policies to make our society harmony and steady and development the level of people’s living. Building a harmonious socialist society demands to take the people as the foremost.

The second one is the thought of the unity of heaven and nature. It is the centre that people live harmoniously with nature and environment in this thought. Zhuangzi said that: the heaven and the earth and I came into existence at the same time; all things in the world and I are uniformity. It also means the harmony between people and people. There is a famous remark, “treat with the reverence due to age the elders in your family, so that the elders in the families of others shall be similarly treated; treat with the kindness due to youth the young in your family, so that the young in the families of others shall be treated”.

With the booming of the economy, we produce more and more material wealth. At the same time, we make environmental contamination and damage the ecological system. In this condition, it is necessary to reaffirm the unity of heaven and man and strategy of sustainable development. It requires us to treat nature rightly and improve environment in time. Hence keeping ecological balance is significance. The third aspect is golden mean. It is a part of Confucianism and a kind of pursuit of ideal character. The mean takes hold of their two extremes. “Zhong” means impartial and just and “Yong” means common, ordinary and constant. “Jin Wenzi acted only after thinking twice. When the master

heard of this, he said, twice may do, is the means of his doing things.” “In practicing the rules of propriety, it is harmony that is prized.” is the means of the way to run the state.

One side, it can eases up the conflict caused by the competition. Reconciliation benefits both and leads to harmony. So it is helpful to eliminate the dispute, improve the communication. This means that only with mutual interaction and enrichment can different civilizations rejuvenate and continue to grow. In this way can market economy go on the right track.

On the other side, the mean isn’t beneficial to bring forth new ideas. Without enterprising spirit and creative mind, the market will be short of vigor and energy. It is no doubt that the economy is not growing. Chinese culture is vitality, continuity and cohesion. Indeed, it also has some shortages. Obviously we must be based on reality, respect the history and carry on the ethics critically.