本文主旨乃以聖嚴法師的戒律思想為核心課題，探討聖嚴法師的戒律思想之倫理學義蘊。首先，本文將探究聖嚴法師對於戒律的理解與詮釋有哪些特別之處？再者，進一步論述聖嚴法師的戒律思想具備著哪些佛教倫理學的義蘊？最後，論述聖嚴法師戒律思想所揭示的倫理學觀點於現代社會所具備的意義或價值。聖嚴法師從信仰生活到社會生活、從淨化自心到淨化社會的層次來論述戒律，乃是一種從自我到他者、個體到社群的「實踐倫理學」觀點。對於聖嚴法師而言，佛教整個教理則是一種「理論的倫理學」，此意味著聖嚴法師的戒律思想不僅僅停留在道德準則的規範性意義上，更立基於佛教哲學的理論基礎之上，而有其思想上的價值。本文亦嘗試處理聖嚴法師戒律思想的倫理學義蘊與若干西方倫理學的理論對話的可能性。從中發現，聖嚴法師戒律思想的倫理學義蘊雖然可被視為是一種規範倫理學，但不能將其歸屬於規範倫理學中任何一個主流的理論。最後，本文論及聖嚴法師戒律思想所揭之倫理學視角之現代性意義，以聖嚴法師戒律思想中的寬容態度做為論述的依據，指出聖嚴法師的寬容態度的詮釋觀點，乃是以菩薩道的慈悲精神做為基礎，使得戒律的內涵更具開放性而不被繁瑣的規則隱蔽，使得更多的人們接受佛教倫理的內涵，達到饒益有情之目的。

This paper is mainly an inquiry into the ethical significance of Master Sheng Yen’s thoughts on Buddhist precepts. I firstly aim to illustrate his understanding and interpretation of Buddhist precepts and then elaborate on the ethical implications of his views, whilst also discussing the merits of his ethical outlook in modern-day society. The distinctive feature of Master Sheng Yen’s interpretation of Buddhist precepts is based on a perspective of pragmatic ethics which pertains to the process of purification from self to others or from individual to society. He therefore views Buddhist philosophy as a distinctive type of theoretical ethics. As a result, Master Sheng Yan’s system of ethics not only deals with the normativity of moral principles, but also reveals the theoretical values of precepts based on Buddhist philosophy. I also draw an analogy between Master Sheng Yen’s views on Buddhist precepts and Western ethical systems and suggest that Master Sheng Yen’s views on precepts could in some respects be taken as a form of normative ethics, although these views cannot be attributed to any specific theory of normative ethics. Finally, I offer possible modern applications of Master Sheng Yen’s views on Buddhist precepts. I take the flexibility of his thoughts on precepts as a basis to argue that his merciful attitude is based on the compassion of the Bodhisattva path. According to his interpretation, Buddhist precepts should not be obscured by complicated moral rules but rather carry a sense of flexibility that allows more people to integrate Buddhist ethics into their daily lives and accomplish the ultimate Mahayana goal of bringing benefit to all beings.