自由的两种含义及其对法治的意义

The Two Meanings of Freedom and Their Implications for the Rule of Law

古典自由主义时期 ,自然自由和社会自由的分类已经被明确提出。自然自由是天赋的、与生俱来的自由 ,自然自由强调自由的平等性 ;社会自由是经过理性妥协和制度限制的自由 ,社会自由强调自由的权利性。从自然自由到社会自由就是使自由由价值形态转变为权利存在 ,这个进步在人类自由史上具有里程碑意义。明确自然自由和社会自由的不同含义 ,对于法治具有重要意义 :以价值形态的自然自由为出发点 ,以权利存在的社会自由为制度核心 ,能够造就法治传统 ;宪法是自由的宣言书 ,自然自由体现为价值预设 ,社会自由表现为权利安排 ;自由既是目的 ,又是手段 。

In the period of Classical liberalism, the classification of natural and social freedom had already been proposed clearly. Natural freedom is talent, innate and emphasizes the equality of freedom; social freedom is formed by rational compromise and system limit, and stresses that freedom is authoritative. The transition from natural freedom to social freedom is to make freedom change from form of value to the existence of rights. This progress has the milestone meanings in mankind's history of freedom. It has great implications for the rule of law to clarify the different meanings of natural freedom and social freedom: By taking the natural freedom of form of value as the starting point and the social freedom of the right existence as the system core, we can bring up the rule of law tradition; the constitution is the declaration of freedom. Natural freedom reflects as the prearrangement of value, social freedom the arrangement of power. Freedom is not only a purpose but a means. The limitation of legal system on freedom should be proper and suitable.