西方汉学家论中国自然法传统

Western Sinologists on the Tradition of Chinese Natural Law

以寻求普遍原则作为实际法审查标准的自然法思想,对西方法律传统的形成具有难以估量的重要影响。中国的法律传统中是否存在着类似的自然法观念,基于中西文明语境的不同,认识可谓错综复杂。西方汉学家对中西文明都有比较深入的了解或洞察,他们对中国自然法传统的思想判断在很大程度上可以消除中西文明之间的隔膜,但也同样会存在一定的误解甚至错讹。李约瑟认为中国存在有法学意义上的自然法,主张礼即自然法,但否认中国存在科学意义上的自然法则。郝大维与安乐哲则严格区分逻辑秩序与审美秩序,否认礼是自然法。皮文睿则将儒家法学视为超越自然法的均衡论,而将黄老思想看成一种基础自然主义的表达,从而认为其“道生法”的思想主张是建构于基础自然主义之上的自然法观念。借助西方汉学家考察中国自然法传统的理论视角,我们可以就中西文明所寻求的普遍原则提供一条有效对话的路径,促成人类共同价值的达成和实现。

The thought of natural law,which seeks the universal principle as the review standard of practical law,has an inestimable and important impact on the formation of western legal tradition.Whether there is a similar concept of natural law in China’s legal tradition is complicated based on the different contexts of Chinese and Western civilizations.Western sinologists have a deep understanding or insight into Chinese and Western civilizations.Their ideological judgment on the tradition of Chinese natural law can eliminate the gap between Chinese and Western civilizations to a great extent,but there are also be some misunderstandings or even errors.Needham believes that there is natural law in the sense of law in China,and advocates that Li is natural law,but he denies the existence of the laws of nature in the sense of science in China.Davd L.Hall and Roger T.Ames strictly distinguish between logical order and aesthetic order,and deny that Li is natural law.R.P.Peerenboom regards the Confucian law as the balance theory that transcends the natural law,and regards the Huang-Lao thought as an expression of foundational naturalism.Therefore,he believes that his ideological proposition of"Tao generates law"is the concept of natural law based on foundational naturalism.With the help of the theoretical perspective of Western sinologists investigating the tradition of Chinese natural law,we can provide an effective path of dialogue on the universal principles sought by Chinese and Western civilizations and promote the achievement and realization of human common values.