Wang Anshi's Viewpoint On Justice And Interests And Its Contemporary Value

In the history of Chinese traditional thought,“differentiation between righteousness and interests” has always been an important topic,which has become a topic discussed by thinkers in different times.Wang Anshi's dual identity as a thinker and statesman has his own unique views on the differentiation between righteousness and interest.His dual efforts in theoretical exploration and reform practice have pushed the “differentiation between righteousness and interest” to a new climax.Wang Anshi's viewpoint on justice and interests is the product of the social reality of the Northern Song Dynasty.In order to further strengthen the centralized power system,the rulers of the Northern Song Dynasty continuously weakened the authority of officials,added official posts,gathered the military power,and carried out a series of measures such as military recruitment system,which resulted in “redundant officials”,“redundant soldiers”and“redundant expenses”.Because the land that the state can use to distribute is not enough to meet the needs of one family,the average land system is abandoned,which makes some labourers free from the feudal land dependency relationship,which is an important social reality in Wang Anshi's viewpoint on justice and interest.In the face of many social problems in the Northern Song Dynasty,Wang Anshi,in order to change the current situation of the country and educate and guide the people in deep fire,as a textbook of imperial examination at that time,it influenced the national governance and the people's thought,and laid the groundwork of public opinion for the innovative interpretation of the concept of justice and interests,which was the compilation of the ‘New meaning of the three Scriptures' at one time as a textbook for the imperial examination.The theory of human nature plays an important role in Wang Anshi's philosophical thought,and Wang Anshi has made a detailed description of the issue of human nature in his articles ‘Nature',‘Disposition' and ‘Theory of nature',which has become the theoretical cornerstone for Wang Anshi to put forward the concept of justice and interests.His theory of human nature is divided into three stages: the theory of good nature,the theory of sex without good and evil and the sex with good and evil.In the traditional Chinese ethics,there are a lot of discussions about “the differentiation between righteousness and interest”.Confucianism generally exalts the supremacy of righteousness and neglects the function of benefit,while Legalism are contrary to Confucianism and attach importance to focusing on interests rather than vigorously advocating justice.Taoist thought that both righteousness and benefit were irrelevant,while Mohist thought that righteousness and benefit were equally important.According to the political environment,the current economic situation and the cultural background of the Northern Song Dynasty,Wang Anshi expanded the connotation of “righteousness” and “benefit”,defined “righteousness” as financial management,enriched the country and benefited the people,and divided “benefit” into public interests and private interests.And put forward that the relationship between justice and interest is the unification of justice and interests,with financing by justice.In the interpretation of the concept of “righteousness”,Wang Anshi according to the current situation of “accumulation of poverty and weakness” in society expands the connotation of “righteousness”,which embodies its thought of the times,flexibility,financial management,rich country,and benefit the people in order to increase the national financial income and improve the living conditions of the people.Reflects the utilitarian spirit of the times;In the definition of “benefit”,Wang Anshi affirmed the legitimacy of personal interests,and even more the proper name of interests within a certain range.This is also a manifestation of the convergence of human nature.When the reasonable interests of individuals are satisfied,it is more conducive to the country's education of the common people.It promotes the stability of the country.Wang Anshi's view of justice and interest is not only confined to the theoretical level,but also applied to the practice of national political reform.In the Xining reform has been incisively and vividly brought into play.In today's society,the creative transformation of Wang Anshi's viewpoint on justice and interests can correct people's partial understanding of the relationship between justice and interest by drawing lessons from the educational role of the theory of human nature.At the practical level,we should draw on the positive factors in the view of equal emphasis on justice and interests,and hope to provide inspiration and help to the development of socialist market economy.