How to understand the difference between traditional people-oriented thought and modern democratic thought

The difference between traditional people-oriented thought and modern democratic thought is mainly manifested in the following aspects:

1, different rights holders

Traditional people-oriented theory holds that the monarch's rights are endowed by God, the monarch is the source of rights, and Zhang Weimin is the master. Influenced by this idea, people think that the well-being of their own destiny comes entirely from the rulers, so they leave the fate of A to their parents, forming their expectation and dependence.

Modern democracy does not recognize the theory of "divine right of monarch", and thinks that the right of monarch comes from the people, and the ruler is only entrusted by the people to do things for them. The fate of the people should be in their own hands.

People-oriented theory regards monarch as the bearer of rights, while modern democracy regards people as the bearer of rights. The essence of people-oriented theory is that the monarch is the master of the people, while the essence of democratic thought is that the people are the masters of the country, that is, the people are the masters of the country and realize their own rule.

2, the value purpose is different

People-oriented theory serves the feudal ruling class, and its value goal is to stabilize and consolidate the feudal autocratic regime. The traditional people-oriented theory emphasizes being close to the people, loving the people and benefiting the people, all of which stand on the position of the monarch.

For example, Cheng Hao said: "The way to govern the country is to follow the will of the people, be sincere in people's livelihood, and be safe without disturbing." Guan Zhong said, "Knowing is only for the taker. The treasure of politics is also. " Its purpose is to consolidate the monarchy, not to support civil rights.

Modern democratic thought was put forward to oppose feudal absolutism and realize people's autonomy. Obviously, the value purpose constructed by the two is completely different.

Caring for the people under the traditional people-oriented theory is only a means for rulers, and it is to cultivate people and make them make greater sacrifices and contributions to the people. What modern democracy pursues is to realize the true value of individuals and the rights of citizens, that is, to realize people's autonomy.

3. Different ways and means of realization.

People are governed by people, and democracy depends on the rule of law. People-oriented thought is to let the rulers realize the great historical decisive role of the people, so as to consciously attach importance to, love and benefit the people. Do not do anything harmful to the people to consolidate the political power.

The main body of its administration is the monarch and officials at all levels, so it also has certain requirements for the moral quality of the ruling class itself, and pays attention to influencing the world with morality. It can be seen that the people-oriented way is the rule of man.

The main idea of modern democratic thought is to prevent personal dictatorship and autocracy within the ruling class, which is invalid by the ruler's own morality and can only be realized by legal means. Because the law can identify people's rights and authority, thus effectively protecting people's interests on the premise that everyone is equal before the law. Therefore, the way to realize democracy is the rule of law.

4. The economic basis of dependence is different.

People-oriented is based on feudal small-scale peasant economy, and democracy is based on commercial economy. Under the feudal small-scale peasant economy, although the small-scale peasant population is large, they are all self-sufficient and do not often exchange goods with each other, so there is no certain economic connection between the people.

Therefore, it is impossible to form a political group with the same goal in the political structure. "Commodities are born equal" is different from commodity economy, which denies the distinction between high and low based on concepts such as blood relationship and family status in the past, and only recognizes the equal relationship between exchanges.

It pursues the principle of equivalent exchange, which is reflected in social relations, that is, equality and cooperation between people. Therefore, modern democracy cannot blossom on the basis of feudal small-scale peasant economy, and modern democracy can only grow in the soil of commodity economy.

Extended data:

The development course of people-oriented thought

The ancient people-oriented thought has gone through the development process from respecting heaven and ghosts to respecting morality and protecting the people, and then attaching importance to the people and the king.

During the Yin and Shang Dynasties, the superstitious atmosphere was particularly strong, and everything was predictable, so Oracle Bone Inscriptions was born to record divination. People worship heaven and earth, ghosts and gods, stars, the sun and the moon. The highest position in people's minds is the sun god, so that Xia Jie is cruel and heartless, but he compares himself with the sun and says, "If there is a day, there will still be people in our country."

During the Western Zhou Dynasty, Zhou people regarded heaven as the supreme god with will and personification, and the king of Zhou, also known as the "son of heaven", was ruled by "destiny" rather than business.

On the other hand, the people of Zhou Dynasty realized "eternal destiny" from the downfall of Shang Dynasty, and saw the defection of the people's armed forces, so that the Western Zhou Dynasty defeated Shang Dynasty. This is "God wants democracy only when the time is right", "God will obey the wishes of the people" and "God looks at himself and listens to himself and the people".

Then, it puts forward that "God has no relatives, only virtue is the supplement", and "respecting virtue" can "protect the people". This opened the precedent of people-oriented thought in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.

During the Spring and Autumn Period, the royal family of the Zhou Dynasty declined. In the sacred and unshakable days, Zhou lost his position as the master of the world, and the world was in chaos and the rites and music collapsed.

Reality has shaken people's worship of sacred heaven. On the other hand, in the relationship between man and nature, man's position is prominent. Xunzi put forward the viewpoint of "controlling the destiny and using it", emphasizing people's subjective initiative in understanding and transforming nature, and the status of "heaven" has begun to shake.

At the same time, from the monarch to some ministers, the understanding of "people" has been improved, and it has been realized that "prospering politics is in line with the people's hearts and abolishing politics is against the people's hearts". The important means for Tian to replace Qi State is to buy off people's hearts, and to make big efforts to transport goods and small efforts to collect them, resulting in "winning the people's hearts" and "returning the people to the water"

Confucius' thought of "saving money and loving the people, making the people take the time" has developed into Mencius' benevolent policy thought of "the people are the most important, the country is the second, and the monarch is the least", warning the rulers to "love the people" and "benefit the people", light punishment and thin taxes, and listen to politics and enjoy the people. This marks the real formation of people-oriented thought.

At the end of Ming Dynasty and the beginning of Qing Dynasty, with the fierce class struggle and the emergence of new factors of production relations, the ancient people-oriented thought was greatly exerted, and progressive thinkers represented by Huang Zongxi, Gu and Wang Fuzhi profoundly exposed and criticized the autocratic monarchy.

He accused the monarchy of being "a great harm to the world", opposed the monarch to regard the world as private property, and put forward that "the world is the mainstay and the monarch is the guest", and the monarch's responsibility lies in "doing things for all people in the world". This kind of social and political thought is progressive and can be regarded as the enlightenment of early democratic thought.

reference data

Baidu Encyclopedia-People-oriented Thought