《世說新語》將〈德行〉列為首篇，歷來被視為承繼孔門四科「德行」為首的內涵。然而，當檢視〈德行〉所蒐四十七條目時，其所涵攝的道德內容並非純然儒家以人文化成建構的道德觀，亦可能含攝道家以宇宙規律建構之道德觀，學界亦有將此現象視為漢末到魏晉之際「道德」觀念的轉變現象。但〈德行〉篇裡有數則條目的內容，實無法以儒家或道家的道德觀進行合理解釋，此種編選現象是否有編輯群更深的用意？亦即編者藉由當代真實發生的故事敘寫，飽含道德實踐必然面對的許多生命境遇，甚至是倫理道德的衝突；在境遇與衝突中，人如何選擇？則牽涉到生命定位與存在價值，都是非常複雜的生命自覺課題。本文希冀還原《世說新語》作為志人小說的書寫特質，小說側重敘事、而非說理，閱讀、理解若能順此書寫特質，則詮釋應更具開放、多元的指涉。《世說新語‧德行》所呈現的「道德」觀不僅是理的規範或道德典範的呈現，而是透過敘事激盪讀者的真實覺受與思考，進而深化深化同理心與實踐力，展現魏晉知識份子在時代困境、人倫匡範中，如何覓得生命自覺的動人力量。

Compiled in the first section of Shi Shou Xin Yu, 'Virtue' has always been considered to inherit the signification of 'virtuous conduct' among Confucius four branches. While examining forty-seven articles in Virtue of Shi Shou Xin Yu, ethical contents contain humanity of Confucianism but also universal law of Taoism. Scholars illustrate this phenomenon as a transformation of moral values happened at the end of the Han Dynasty to the Wei-Jin era. However, it seems that some articles collected in Virtue are not completely reasoned by moral values of Confucianism or Taoism. By means of compiling method, editors intend to expose the dilemma of carrying out moral practice, even moral conflict. Which one eventually should be chosen when people face real life and moral conflict? Life consciousness has always been a complex issue when it comes to the life position and value of existence. Therefore, this article is tried to restore the writing style of Shi Shou Xin Yu to anecdotes focusing on narrative rather than reasoning, reading and understanding. By doing do, more open and pluralistic interpretations are able to liberate while reading. In this case, the ethical contents in Virtue of Shi Shou Xin Yu can be showed as the presentation of moral norms, moreover, its narrative writing arouses readers' feelings and compassion to view Wei-Jin’s intellectuals restrained by realistic situation and mortal principle are struggle to seek their self-consciousness.