论改良与革命——以法国大革命评价问题为中心

On Reform and Revolution——Focusing on the Problem of the French Revolution Evaluation

潘恩的《人权论》和柏克的《法国革命论》从不同角度评价法国大革命,代表着两派截然不同的观点,改良和革命是其最根本的分野。柏克以尊重传统为理由反对法国大革命,主张以改良的方式解决社会问题;潘恩则注重理性原则的应用,极力赞美和宣扬法国革命。归根结底,对一个民族变革之路的历史评价,最重要的标准是能否使其自身获得可持续发展。

Edmund Burke＇ s French Revolution and Thomas Paine＇ s Rights of Man evaluated French Revolution from different aspects, representing two disparate standpoints, reform or revolution, which was their essential interfluve. For the reason of respecting tradition, Burke opposed French Revolution and insisted on solving social problem by the mode of reform, while Paine thought much of the exertion of rational principle, and did his utmost to praise and propagandize French Revolution. In a word, the crucial standard about estimating a nation＇s way of renovation is continual development.