论环境法对古代自然法学尊重自然精神的复兴——以“自然”含义的演变为视角

On Environmental Law’s Renaissance of the Respect to Natureof Ancient Natural Law—From the Angel of View of theEvolvement of the Meaning of “Nature”

自然法学在西方法学思潮中源远流长 ,为法学研究和发展提供了源头活水。仔细梳理各个历史时期自然法学中“自然”概念的含义 ,可以发现古代自然法是从自然物质世界的属性和规律来确定和评判人的行为 ,神学自然法中上帝和神是人领悟自然的中介 ,自启蒙时代古典自然法开始 ,自然的意义就主要用来指人的自然本性 ,与物质的自然世界脱离了联系。“自然”含义的演变反映了人们对待自然态度的变化 ,也揭示了法学对自然物质世界的疏忽和远离。现代环境法对人与自然关系的调整、对自然物质世界的关注和重视在某种程度上正是对古代自然法学尊重自然精神的复兴。

Natural law has a long history in western legal theories and it is the headstream of the development of legal research. If we analyse the definition of “nature” of different historical phases of natural law, we may find it has changed a lot. The nature of ancient natural law refers to the natural substance. The theological natural law means the spirit of God. Since the Age of Enlightenment, natural law just indicates the nature of man. The evolvement of the meaning of nature reflects the changes of man’s attitude to the natural world. Modern environmental law recognizes the relationship between man and nature as its regulative subject and pays important attention to the natural world. This is the renaissance of the respect to nature of ancient natural law.