权力的正当性基础:早期儒家“民意论”的形态和构成
作者简介:王中江,北京大学哲学系教授(北京 100871)
摘要: 政治领域的权力是工具和手段,对它的运用只有合乎和服务于公众的利益和意愿才是正当的。人们习以为常的儒家的“民本论”,主要是指在政治工具中何者重要的问题,而不是指政治和权力的目的为何的问题。政治和权力的目的在儒家那里是用合乎“民意”和“民心”来表达和论说的。儒家对为什么建立政治权力和设立君王,权力运用为什么要合乎民意和民心,民意、天意和君意三者为什么是协同,民意和民心都由什么构成,政治责任和后果由谁承担以及公众面对恶政如何选择等问题的回答和论说,都是围绕权力的正当性基础在于合乎民意和民心而展开的。对儒家“民意论”的关注和深度认知,将使儒家政治学说的图像发生一个重要变化。
The Basis of Legitimacy of Political Power: The Form and Constitution of Early Confucianism “Theory of People’s Wishes”
- Available Online:
2021-03-22
Abstract: Political power is a tool or means, which application is justified only if it conforms to and serves the interests and wishes of the public. The familiar Confucianism “people-fundamental theory” mainly refers to what is the important one of political tools, rather than the purpose of politics and power. The purpose of politics and power is expressed and discussed in accordance with “wishes of the people” and “willof people” in Confucianism. The Confucian’s answers and arguments on why political power and monarchy should be established, why the use of power should conform to the wishes of the people, why the wishes of the people, the will of heaven and the will of the monarch should be coordinated, what constitutes the wishes and will of people, who should bear the political responsibility and consequences, and how the public should choose in the face of evil politics, etc., are all revolved around the basis of legitimacy of power, which is to conform to the wishes and will of people. The attention and deep understanding of Confucianism “theory of people’s wishes” will make an important transformation in the image of Confucian’s political theory.