法治是什么——渊源、规诫与价值

What Does “Rule of Law” Mean? Origin, Admonition and Value

本文通过梳理法治的渊源、规诫和价值，把法治依次解释为一项历史成就、一种法制品德、一种道德价值和一种社会实践。作者首先分析了经典法治概念的形成过程和构成要素，认为既不宜把法治理解为世俗化运动的结果，也不能简单地看做近代革命的产物。接着，作者展示了富勒、莱兹和菲尼斯把法治作为制度品德的逻辑理由和论证过程，并论述了作为法治的普在要素的十大规诫。进而，作者对法治的工具价值和道德价值做了谨慎的区分，在揭露工具主义谬误的同时又肯定了法治的工具品性，并通过评述哈耶克、德沃金和罗尔斯等人的学说，揭示出法治对维护人的尊严和自由的意义。最后，作者指出法治的内在矛盾，强调把法治理解为社会实践概念的重要性。

Abstract By tracing its origin, admonitions and value the author interprets rule of law as a historical achievement,a legal morality, a moral value, and a social practice. First the author analyses the forming process and components of classic concept of rule of law and believes that we should see rule of law neither as a result of secular movement nor as a product of modern revolution. Then he unfolds the logical reasons for Lon L. Fuller, Joseph Raz and John Finnis to take rule of law as an institutional morality and their arguments, and expounds the ten admonitions which serve as universal factors of rule of law. Next the author makes a careful differentiation between the instrumental value and moral value of rule of law and affirms the instrumental quality of rule of law while exposing the fallacy of instrumentalism. At the same time he reveals the significance of the rule of law for safeguarding the dignity and freedom of man through an analysis of doctrines of F. A. Fayek, Dowarkin and J. Rawls. Lastly, the author points out the contradictions inherent in rule of law, emphasizing the importance to understand rule of law as a concept of social practice and giving a brief account of the particular context and process of rule of law in China.