哲学研究

《易》教的目的是让人们“穷理尽性以至于命”。人只有做到尽己之天性，才可能圆满天命之分量，此乃一积德累善之过程。后天世界虽有善恶之分，但人们只有通过积德累善才能上达“至善”之境即道之本体，而“至善”之境又可以通过“定、静、安、虑、得”等次第工夫证得，并据此以“外明明德”以彰显道之发用。这就是“继之者善”之意。“成性”即是“成诚”,即是“成己、成物”,即是成道而无所不成，这就是“成之者性”之意。“继善成性”说旨在劝勉人们由人道上合天道。天道变而不失其常，而人道变而易失其常，故人必须通过返修才能上合天道，必须通过“利贞”才能上达“元亨”,如此才能“正性命”而“保太和”。每一卦皆有太极之理，每一爻皆具性情之真。如能在实践中见此太极之理、性情之真，即可由情复性，即可尽人道而返天道。

The edification of theYijingaims to guide people to “plumb the principle, fully develop human nature and undertake one's task of destiny”. Only if people have fully developed their innate nature, can they fully realize their task of destiny, which actually comes up to a course of accumulating virtues. Although there is a distinction between good and evil in this world, one is only enabled by the accumulation of good to arrive at the realm of “ supreme good”, i. e., the noumenon of the Dao experienceable through certain steps of meditation, upon which moralities are to be further exhibited. This means that what succeeds the Dao is good.The accomplishment of human nature refers to the accomplishment of sincerity, the realization of oneself and others, as well as the accomplishment of the Dao. This indicates that the accomplishment of the Dao actually entails the accomplishment of human nature, with the aim of persuading people to attain the union of heaven and human beings. Although the Dao of heaven changes, it does not deviate from normality, whereas human beings tend to deviate from normality in their changes. Therefore, to realize the union with heaven, human beings must cultivate themselves, in the course of which their nature and destiny can be rectified and the great harmony between heaven and human beings will be realized. Each hexagram or line embodies the principle ofT aiji(Supreme Ultimate) and human innate nature, with the help of which one is able to step back from emotions and withdraws into this nature and the Dao of heaven through the accomplishment of the Dao of human beings.