在传统儒家看来,礼仪制度或者出自本性(孟子),或者受教于圣王、先师。它们均不能体现民众的心声。在制度体系中,君主是牧羊人,民众是被管理的对象,如同牲畜。民众几乎没有尊严可言。制度建设的目的既不是为了民众,甚至也不是为了君主。无视民众心声的制度的哲学根据在于对民众理性能力的不信任。这种无视民众心声、仅仅为了管理民众的制度,显然与现代制度相距甚远。我们在建设现代制度的过程中需要反省儒家传统。 In the view of traditional Confucianism, the ritual system is either of its own nature (Mencius) or taught by the holy king or the first teacher. They can not reflect the public’s voice. In the institutional system, the monarch is a shepherd, the people are the object of management, as livestock. People have almost no dignity at all. The purpose of institution-building is neither for the people nor for the monarchs. The philosophical basis of the system that ignores the voice of the public lies in the lack of trust in the rational ability of the people. This disregard of the public opinion and the mere management of the public system are clearly far from the modern system. We need to reflect on Confucian tradition in the process of building a modern system.