傅佩榮教授指出古典儒家的主張是一種人性向善論。歷代對於古典儒家人性論的詮釋見解分歧，人性向善論不僅提供古典儒家圓滿的詮釋，人性向善論本身作為一套哲學思想符合三項條件：基於經驗事實、合乎理性反省、指點理想途徑。本文的立意則是盼能藉由整理傅氏早期的著作，還原人性向善論出現背景，將這段過程重新展示。人性向善論被提出的時間，不晚於1985年。在傅氏於1984年發表的博士論文中，已經說明人之性善在於人之心善，心之四端僅是善的萌芽而非滿全，而四端具有擴充發展的傾向；1985年6月於《哲學與文化》發表〈人性向善論——對古典儒家的一種理解〉一文，正式確立其古典儒家哲學的詮釋立場；同年發表〈中國基督徒在思想及文化界的角色〉，論及人性向善論與人性向惡論之協調，在中西哲學思想會通上開闢蹊徑。本文將聚焦於傅佩榮1985年以前的思想流變。

Professor Pei-Jung Fu asserts that classical Confucianism proposed the theory that human nature tends toward goodness. In successive generations, there have been disagreements regarding the interpretations of and opinions on the theory that “human nature tends toward goodness” in Classical Confucianism. The theory that “human nature tends toward goodness” not only provides a complete interpretation of classical Confucianism, as a philosophical system, “human nature toward goodness” also meets three criteria: it is based on facts and experiences, conforms to rational retrospect, and shows the ideal paths in life. This study aims to restore the background behind the assertion that “human nature tends toward goodness” by retracing the process through a systematic examination of the early works of Fu. The theory that “human nature tends toward goodness” was put forth no later than 1985. In Fu’s doctoral dissertation published in 1984, he had already explained that the tendency of human nature toward goodness comes from one’s heart. The four beginnings of one’s heart possesses the tendency to be extended and develop as it is only the bud of goodness instead of its fulfillment. In June, 1985, Fu published “On Human Nature as Tending towards Goodness - An Understanding of Classical Confucianism” in Universitas: Monthly Review of Philosophy and Culture, officially establishing his interpretation of classical Confucianism. In the same year, he published “Chinese Christians’ Role in Thinking and Culture” This paper discusses the coordination between the two theories that human nature tends toward goodness and evil, opening a new pathway for the meeting between Chinese and Western philosophy. This study focuses on the transformation of Fu’s thought before 1985.