《商君書(shū)》也稱(chēng)《商子》,現(xiàn)存26篇,是戰(zhàn)國(guó)時(shí)期法家學(xué)派的代表作之一,是中國(guó)家喻戶(hù)曉的人物商鞅及其后學(xué)的著作匯編。《商君書(shū)》著重論述商鞅一派在當(dāng)時(shí)秦國(guó)施行的變法理論和具體措施?!渡叹龝?shū)》論述了大量愚民政策以及法家士子為帝王穩(wěn)固政權(quán),剝奪百姓人權(quán)的觀點(diǎn)。例如:《商君書(shū)》中認(rèn)為國(guó)家與人民是矛盾的關(guān)系。人民強(qiáng)大,則國(guó)家虛弱。所以想要國(guó)家強(qiáng)大,則必須削弱人民。[1]能夠戰(zhàn)勝?gòu)?qiáng)敵、稱(chēng)霸天下的國(guó)家,必須制服本國(guó)的人民。[2]只有使人民愚昧無(wú)知、樸實(shí)忠厚,人民才不易結(jié)成強(qiáng)大的力量來(lái)對(duì)抗國(guó)家和君主,這樣國(guó)家才會(huì)容易治理,君主的地位才會(huì)牢固。《商君書(shū)》中認(rèn)為人性本惡,必須承認(rèn)人之惡性,治理國(guó)家要以惡治善才能使國(guó)家強(qiáng)大。[4]《商君書(shū)》中主張重刑輕賞,他認(rèn)為加重刑罰,減少獎(jiǎng)賞,是君主愛(ài)護(hù)民眾,民眾就會(huì)拼命爭(zhēng)奪獎(jiǎng)賞;增加獎(jiǎng)賞,減輕刑罰,是君主不愛(ài)護(hù)民眾,民眾就不會(huì)為獎(jiǎng)賞而拼死奮斗。
《古代寓言·黃金萬(wàn)兩》
齊人有東郭敬者,猶多愿,愿有萬(wàn)金。其徒請(qǐng)赒焉,不與,曰:“吾將以求封也” 。其徒怒而去之宋,曰:“此愛(ài)于無(wú)也,故不如以先與之有也。”
——《商子》
Ten Thousand Taels of Gold
In the state of Qi there was one Mr. Dongguo Chang who was a man ambitions. Among other things, he wanted to possess ten thousand tales of gold.
A student of his, knowing of this ambition, asked to be favoured with a small sum, for he was very poor.
Mr. Dongguo Chang refused to grant his request. "I need all my money to buy myself a post in the government," he said.
His student became angry and left for the state of Song. Before he went he said to the teacher, "Since I shall have no share in the fortunes that you are coveting, I'd better seek them elsewhere. Maybe I can come by them earlier than you do."
Shang Zi