自然权利·政治正当性·宪政——西方宪政民主政体的理念脉络探析

Natural Right,Political Legitimacy and Constitutionalism:An Inquiry into the Ideal Sources and Paths of Western Constitutional Democracies

本文从政治哲学角度考察自然权利、政治正当性与宪政三要素的基本涵义及其逻辑关系,意在探析西方宪政民主政体的理念脉络。文章的基本论点是,在西方政治体系中,自然权利理念不仅为统治与被统治关系的政治正当性提供根本依据,更作为宪政民主政体的基本规范为宪政、民主及法治的正当程序奠定基础。

Focusing on the three basic factors - natural right, political legitimacy and constitutionalism, this article aims to explore the ideal sources and paths of Western constitutional democracies from the perspective of political philosophy. Its major argument is that the idea of natural right has not only provided the fundamental underpinning for political legitimacy between the ruler and the ruled, but, being the basic norm of Western constitutionat democracies, has laid the foundation for constitutionalism, democracy, and the due process of the rule of law.