关键词: 乾嘉思想, 理出于礼, 节性, 为仁, 理想人格

Abstract: In the perspective of moral philosophy, traditional ethics, especially NeoConfucian, was criticized and expanded by the Qianjia School from four aspects. Firstly, instead of basing virtues on an ontological foundation of principle, the Qianjia School argued that the source of morality was rooted in the rite. Then the Qianjia School protested a naturalistic view of human nature opposing to the NeoConfucian transcendental humanity. Thirdly, morality was evaluated by behaviors and affections not as to motivations. In the end, the ideal moral personality was not still a sage but an ordinary person who abided rites. The point view of the Qianjia School ethics is indispensable to explain the occurrence of Chinese modernity.