Breaking
Back儒家视角下的大学生交友边界与真正友谊
儒家视角下的大学生交友边界与真正友谊
NEWS
中国新闻网8 hours agoEducation6 min readChinaView translation

儒家视角下的大学生交友边界与真正友谊

Quick Look

文章探讨了儒家思想对大学生交友的指导,认为真正友谊在于辅助对方德性完善,以礼义为界限,君子之交有界限但最高境界是有边界无边界感,强调选择贤友、讲诚信与劝诫,友谊最高境界是精神契合而非无界限。

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

文章讨论了大学生在交友过程中对边界感的困惑,并引用儒家经典如《论语》《孟子》《荀子》《礼记》等,探讨友谊的本质与界限。

Font size

如何交友是05后大学生非常关心的问题,汤同学说:“我想要亲密的友谊,但又害怕被过度侵入,边界感会让友谊变冷吗?边界划在哪里才不会伤害关系?我发现身边很多人都卡在这个困惑里。”儒家思想作为传统文化的主流,至今还影响着人们的生活和观念,不妨看看儒家是怎么看待这个问题的。

什么是真正的友谊

汤同学说的“边界”就是指人与人之间的界限,或者说人与人交往的原则、规则。在人际交往中,个体以自我为中心,对自我和他人之间诸多分别与距离的体察、感受,即边界感。

儒家认为,不同人的交往有着不同的边界和边界感,大致可以分为3层:其一,小人之交只有利益交换,看似亲密,实则没有真正的友谊,交往边界可伸、可缩、可破,没有固定的边界和边界感,一切以利益为中心;其二,君子之交志同道合,有着共同的追求,有着共同遵循的界限和边界感;其三,修养最好的君子有界限无边界感,用孔子的话说,就是随心所欲,但不会越出应有的边界(《论语·为政》)。

真正的友谊在于帮助对方实现自我的完善,所谓“以友辅仁”(《论语·颜渊》)。在儒家看来,人的本性虽然是善的,但只是一个萌芽,还需要不断修养自己来实现德性的完善,在此过程中,朋友发挥着重要的辅助作用,具体表现在两方面。

其一,肯定。好的朋友能够恰当地肯定自己(《荀子·修身》),帮助自己扩充善的萌芽。

其二,劝诫。人不易发现自己的缺点,发现了不易改正,朋友以善相劝,以实现彼此德性的完善,朋友相处之道莫过于此(《孟子·离娄下》)。孔子说,爱护他,能不让他劳苦吗?忠于他,能不去劝诫吗?(《论语·宪问》)在儒家看来,德性的完善是一个人最长远、最根本的利益,朋友之间精神上的靠近、契合才是友谊亲密的体现。并且,在自我完善的过程中,朋友只是起辅助而非支配作用,这也从友谊的意义上划定了朋友交往的边界。

和什么样的人交朋友

正因为友谊的意义在于帮助对方德性的完善,孔子主张要和正直的人交朋友,和诚实的人交朋友,和知识渊博的人交朋友(《论语·季氏》)。他甚至说,不要和不如自己的人交朋友(《论语·学而》),要以有很多“贤友”(《论语·季氏》)为快乐。

子夏听了老师的话,跟自己的学生说,可以交往的人,我就与他交往;不可以交往的人,我就拒绝和他们交往(《论语·子张》)。善于选择朋友是一个人德性、能力以及智慧的体现,一个人交什么样的朋友也意味着这个人是一个什么样的人(《荀子·大略》)。因此,选择和什么人交朋友,是朋友交往之初的划界以及边界感的体现。

汤同学把朋友分为两类:一类是“同路的朋友”,例如同学、队友、共事过的人等;一类是“深度共鸣的朋友”,这类朋友“能聊到价值观层面,能互相激发”。激发之中自然有肯定、有劝诫,深度交流在融合情感的同时,也衡定了朋友相处的界限,这一界限不出于防范,而出于共鸣,不出于私利,而系连于公共生活与社会法则,这正是儒家所主张的朋友之道。

如果把“深度共鸣的朋友”称为“深交”,“同路的朋友”便可称为“泛交”。儒家也主张多交朋友,广泛交往。子张说:君子不仅要尊重贤人,还要包容大众。如果我是一位大贤人,对别人有什么不能包容的呢?如果我是一个不贤能的人,别人将会拒绝和我交往,我有什么资格拒绝与人交往?(译自《论语·子张》)泛交有界限,但边界感不用那么强。

朋友相处的边界是什么

具体说来,朋友交往过程中,应以什么为界限呢?儒家主张以礼义为界限。孔子说,不符合礼的事情不要看,不符合礼的言论不要听,不符合礼的话不要说,不符合礼的行为不要做(《论语·颜渊》)。

朋友作为“五伦”之一,朋友相处也有朋友相处的礼仪和边界。有一次,子贡对孔子说,我对学习感到厌倦了,希望去朋友那里放松一下。孔子说,朋友之间相互辅助,相互辅助时也要遵循礼,和朋友在一起也不容易,怎么能放松(《荀子·大略》)。也就是说,朋友交往也要遵循礼,也要有边界感。

儒家对于朋友相处的边界有一些具体的规定。例如,曾子说,如果朋友死了,第二年他的墓地长出了青草,就不能再为他哭泣(《礼记·檀弓上》)。长时间为朋友哭泣,既损害身体健康,也不符合“亲亲”(《孟子·尽心上》)的原则。

尽管亲密关系来自“长时间的频繁互动”(侯玉波编著《社会心理学》第五版),但有学生困惑于“频繁”的程度、互动的节奏如何把握,孔子的话可以提供参考。

孔子说,朋友交往过程中,如果言行过于烦琐,就会变得疏远(《论语·里仁》)。可见,朋友间互动的频率超过一定范围,就不与亲密度成正比了。孔子还说,如果朋友有错,应该诚恳地劝告朋友,并满怀善意地引导朋友,但如果朋友不听,就停下来不要讲了,以免自取其辱(《论语·颜渊》)。尽管劝诫是朋友相处之道,但停下来不讲,则是边界感的体现。一而再、再而三地说,会让人产生私生活被干预、边界被侵犯的感觉。

友谊的最高境界

朋友交往不仅讲礼,还讲义,义即适宜、应该,义、利相对,有修养的人重视义而不是利。《论语·乡党》记载:孔子的一位朋友去世之后,没有亲人安葬他,孔子说,就让我来安葬吧!孔子的话体现了他对朋友的“忠”,对责任的主动担当。日常生活中常听人说:“这个朋友为人很仗义!”仗义就是把“应该”放在了个人利益前面。义还体现为一种平等交往的心态。晋平公与亥唐是朋友,晋平公到亥唐那里去,亥唐说进去平公就进去,说坐下平公就坐下,说吃饭就吃饭,即使是糙米饭、蔬菜汤,晋平公也不敢不吃饱(《孟子·万章下》)。

朋友交往不仅要遵循礼义的原则,还要讲信。子夏说,与朋友交往,说话要讲信用。曾子每天多次反省自己,与朋友交往是否做到了诚信(《论语·学而》)。可见,诚信是朋友交往的原则、边界。

讲诚信的结果是被信任,孔子把朋友能信任自己当作平生志向的3个内容之一(《论语·公冶长》)。“信任在人类心理上的功能是简化”(郑也夫《信任论》),简化是互信的结果,是友谊亲密的表现。互信意味着边界感融入内在、化为无形,随心所欲,但不会越出应有的礼仪和边界。有边界、无边界感,是友谊的最高境界。

综上所述,儒家主张,友谊的意义在于辅助朋友实现自我的完善,辅助一词既说明了友谊的意义,也定义了朋友的界限。情绪调整、心灵安顿有赖于人的自我修养。交友当交“贤友”,与什么人交朋友本身就是一种划界。

在朋友交往过程中,儒家主张以礼义为界限,对友爱进行规范、节制,合乎礼义的友爱更长久、更牢固、更温暖。小人之交既无固定的边界也无边界感,一切以个人利益为中心;君子之交有界限、有边界感,但境界最高的人,言行处处合于界限却无边界感。

在荀子看来,最高的仁是“自爱”(《荀子·子道》),强调自己给自己划界,自尊自爱。亲密无间重在精神的契合、情感的融通,而不是不要边界。孔子说,有德的人不孤独,肯定会有朋友,就好像住在一个地方一定有邻居一样(《论语·里仁》)。孟子说,一乡中的优秀人物便和这一乡的善士交朋友,一国中的优秀人物便和这一国的优秀人物交朋友;天下的优秀人物便和天下的优秀人物交朋友(《孟子·万章下》)。

友谊将“使我狭隘之人生,扩展而成广大无限之人生”(钱穆《晚学盲言》)。

(周耿 作者系北京交通大学文化素质教育中心副教授)

Open Questions

  • 如何在现代社交媒体环境中应用儒家的交友边界观?
  • 儒家所说的“有边界无边界感”在实际人际关系中如何具体操作?
  • 不同文化背景下的大学生对儒家友谊观的接受程度如何?

Related Topics

This article was originally published by 中国新闻网.

Related Stories

The Xinyi Building of Zhubei Junior High School in Hsinchu County will be demolished and rebuilt, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2029
Developing·

The Xinyi Building of Zhubei Junior High School in Hsinchu County will be demolished and rebuilt, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2029

The Xinyi Building at Zhubei Junior High School in Hsinchu County is more than half a century old. The building is old and the facilities are aging. The County Education Bureau has won the bid to invest more than 452.6 million yuan to demolish and rebuild the building and build a new teaching building with 5 floors above ground and 1 floor underground. The estimated construction period is three years and will be completed by the end of 2029 to cope with future education needs and the steady increase in the number of students.

自由时报
2 min read
Kaohsiung City's new primary school Peili volunteer team spent more than 15,000 hours in four years and was recognized by the Education Fragrance Record
Education·

Kaohsiung City's new primary school Peili volunteer team spent more than 15,000 hours in four years and was recognized by the Education Fragrance Record

Xinshang Elementary School in Kaohsiung City established the Peili Volunteer Group in 2022. 20 volunteer parents accompany nearly 100 children in reading and learning every morning. They have served more than 15,000 hours in four years, helping students overcome learning setbacks and rebuild their self-confidence. Nearly half of the children have made significant progress in reading comprehension, and this year they were recognized by the Kaohsiung City Education Fragrance Record.

自由时报
2 min read
Minister of Education Cheng Yingyao issued a letter of condolences on Teachers' Day: affirming the excellent performance of Taiwanese students in international competitions and saying that glory belongs to teachers
Developing·

Minister of Education Cheng Yingyao issued a letter of condolences on Teachers' Day: affirming the excellent performance of Taiwanese students in international competitions and saying that glory belongs to teachers

Before Teachers' Day, Education Minister Cheng Ying-yao issued a letter to teachers across the country, confirming that Taiwanese students ranked among the best in science, reading, mathematics and digital literacy in the PISA 2025 international evaluation. He said that this honor belongs to teachers who prepare lessons carefully and teach with heart. He also stated that the Ministry of Education will be pragmatic as a backing, reduce administrative interference, and launch a number of policies to support teachers to focus on the essence of teaching.

自由时报
2 min read
The demand for acting teachers in Pingtung County increases, and those with non-teaching training background participate in professional growth workshops to improve their immediate combat capabilities
Developing·

The demand for acting teachers in Pingtung County increases, and those with non-teaching training background participate in professional growth workshops to improve their immediate combat capabilities

The wave of teacher retirements in Pingtung County this year has reached a new high in the past three years, with 61 junior high school students and 181 elementary school and kindergarten teachers retiring. This has led to an increase in teacher vacancies and difficulty in recruiting agency teachers. The county government and the "Teach for Taiwan Foundation" jointly organized a professional growth workshop to provide 12-hour courses for acting teachers with non-teaching training background. The content covered classroom culture, class routines, education regulations, etc., with the aim of improving their ability to fight in the classroom. Statistics show that the proportion of acting teachers in elementary schools and middle schools this school year has reached 16% and 11% in junior high schools. The number of acting teachers without teacher certificates has continued to increase slightly. The Education Department pointed out that after the retirement threshold is adjusted next year, the demand for acting teachers is expected to gradually slow down in the future.

自由时报
2 min read
Standing at the center of the world’s skills stage: How a “skills passport” enables “cross-border travel”
Developing·

Standing at the center of the world’s skills stage: How a “skills passport” enables “cross-border travel”

During the Shanghai World Championships, the "Catalogue for Comparative Certification of Domestic (Overseas) Vocational Skills" was released, including 16 certificates from 7 international institutions. Certificate holders can directly exchange for domestic vocational skill level certificates to promote cross-border mutual recognition of skill standards and talent flow.

中国新闻网
3 min read
Taiwanese students performed well in the international study competition. The Minister of Education thanked the teachers for their professional guidance.
Education·

Taiwanese students performed well in the international study competition. The Minister of Education thanked the teachers for their professional guidance.

Taiwanese students have performed well in the four major international learning evaluations (TIMSS, ICCS, ICILS, and PISA) in recent years. Mathematics, science, reading, civic cognition, computer and information literacy, and computational thinking have ranked among the top five in the world, with civic cognition and computational thinking ranking first in the world. Minister of Education Zheng Yingyao thanked the teachers for their professionalism and attentive teaching, and affirmed the achievements of the 12-year national education curriculum in strengthening the literacy orientation.

自由时报
2 min read
More on this topic儒家