作者：张兴贵

编辑：李之洋 责任编辑：胡丽莉 翻译：吴可正

天朝许多问题的症结，在于“不把人当人”。这句话刺耳，却直指社会的根源。在文化、制度与实践中，“人”常被简化为工具、数据或符号，而非有血有肉、有思想与尊严的个体。

一、不把人当人的社会症结

社会中，人被赋予各种标签，却被剥夺了作为“人”的本质。在一些官员眼中，人只是完成指标的工具、统计表上的数字或宣传的棋子：他们可能是“劳动力”，为经济增长添砖加瓦；可能是“生育机器”，为人口政策服务；或是“消费者”，为利润贡献财富。但这些身份背后，几乎无人追问：他们是谁？他们的梦想、痛苦与追求是什么？

这种“工具化”思维渗透各处：教育中，学生被化为分数，教师沦为指标执行者；职场中，员工成了“螺丝钉”；医疗中，病人被视为“病例”；甚至在家庭里，孩子也常被当作父母梦想的延伸，而非独立个体。其根源在于长期忽视个体的尊严与价值，用集体目标与宏观数据取代了人本关怀。

二、中国人的悲剧：迷失的自我

中国人的悲剧在于：不知道自己是什么，不知道应该成为什么，不知道能够过怎样的生活。

首先，不知道自己是什么。社会标签掩盖了真实个性，我们被推着前行，却少有机会探索自我。在中国一个成绩一般的孩子，可能喜欢画画或写故事，但老师和家长只关注分数，他会被贴上“差生”的标签。他会被推到补习班、题海里，没有人鼓励他去发展天赋。久而久之，他也怀疑自己“就是个差生”，而忘了自己真正热爱的是什么。

其次，不知道自己应该是什么。长期以来，社会强加“成功”的标准——高学历、高收入、买房买车、成家立业。但这些标准并不适合所有人。人们被教育要服从，却鲜少被鼓励去选择独特的道路。一个本来热爱音乐的男生，梦想成为独立音乐人。但走出校园后社会与家庭不断提醒他：要有“稳定工作”、要买房、要结婚。他只能像所有人一样朝九晚五，被迫活在别人期待的剧本里。

最后，不知道自己能过什么样的生活。效率与结果主导的社会让人们接受“只能如此”的观念，被告知生活就是竞争与牺牲，而不是尊严、自我与幸福。快递员就是活生生的例子，他们每天奔波十几个小时，只为多送几单、多挣几十块钱。他习惯了这种高强度竞争，被告知“拼命干才有出路”。久而久之，他不再思考自己是否喜欢这份工作，是否能有闲暇时间去陪伴家人、旅行或学习新技能、是否还能追求更好的生活，而只是把人生等同于送件、赚钱和透支身体。

结语

每个人都不是工具，而是独一无二的存在，拥有情感、梦想和尊严。改变不会立刻发生，但可以从自身开始：尊重身边的人，倾听他们的故事；反思自我，拒绝被外界期待绑架；行动起来，为弱者发声，为人性呼吁。唯有如此，我们才能重塑自我，重建更人性化的社会。

Reshape the Self, Rebuild a Humane Society

Author: Zhang Xinggui

Editor: Li Zhiyang Responsible Editor: Hu Lili Translator: Wu Kezheng

Abstract: Chinese society has long reduced people to mere tools, neglecting individual dignity and value, resulting in widespread loss of self. The author calls for beginning with respecting others, reflecting on oneself, and taking active steps to rebuild independent character and foster a more humane society.

Under the CCP regime, the root of many problems lies in “not treating people as people.” Harsh as it sounds, it points directly to the root of society. In culture, institutions, and practices, “human beings” are often reduced to tools, data, or symbols, rather than flesh-and-blood individuals with thoughts and dignity.

I. The Root of Social Ills: Not Treating People as People

In society, people are assigned various labels but deprived of their essence as “human beings.” In the eyes of some officials, people are merely tools to fulfill targets, numbers on a statistical sheet, or pawns in propaganda: they may be “labor force” to fuel economic growth; “reproductive machines” to serve population policy; or “consumers” to generate profits. Yet behind these identities, few ever ask: who are they? What are their dreams, pains, and aspirations?

This “instrumentalization” mentality penetrates every corner: in education, students are reduced to scores, and teachers to enforcers of targets; in the workplace, employees become just a cog in the machine; in healthcare, patients are treated as “cases”; even in families, children are often regarded as extensions of their parents’ dreams rather than independent individuals. The root lies in the long-standing neglect of individual dignity and value, where collective goals and macro-level data replace human-centered concern.

II. The Tragedy of the Chinese People: A Lost Self

The tragedy of the Chinese people is this: they do not know what they are, they do not know what they should become, and they do not know what kind of life they can live.

First, they do not know what they are. Social labels obscure real individuality. We are pushed forward but rarely given the chance to explore ourselves. In China, an average student may like drawing or writing stories, but teachers and parents only focus on grades, labeling him as a “poor student.” He is pushed into cram schools and endless problem sets, with no one encouraging him to develop his talents. Over time, he begins to believe he truly is just a “poor student,” forgetting what he genuinely loves.

Second, they do not know what they should be. For a long time, society has imposed rigid standards of “success”—a high degree, high income, buying a house and a car, to start a family and establish a career. But these standards do not suit everyone. People are taught to obey but seldom encouraged to pursue unique paths. A boy who truly loves music may dream of becoming an independent musician. Yet once he leaves school, society and family constantly remind him: you need a “stable job,” you must buy a house, you must get married. He can only live like everyone else, working nine to five, forced into a script written by others’ expectations.

Lastly, they do not know what kind of life they can live. A society dominated by efficiency and results leads people to accept the notion of “this is the only way,” being told that life is nothing but competition and sacrifice—not dignity, selfhood, or happiness. Delivery workers are a vivid example: they rush around for over ten hours a day, just to deliver a few more parcels, to earn a few more yuan. They grow accustomed to this intense competition, told that “working to exhaustion is the only way out.” Over time, they no longer ask themselves whether they like this job, whether they can have leisure to accompany family, travel, or learn new skills, or whether they can pursue a better life. Instead, they equate life with deliveries, making money, and exhausting their bodies.

Conclusion

No one is a tool; each person is a unique being with emotions, dreams, and dignity. Change will not happen overnight, but it can begin with ourselves: respecting those around us and listening to their stories; reflecting on ourselves and refusing to be enslaved by others’ expectations; taking action to speak for the weak and advocate for humanity. Only in this way can we reshape the self and rebuild a more humane society.