现代自由之消极与积极:论贡斯当的自由思想

The Negative and the Positive of Modern Liberty:On Benjamin Constant's Thoughts of Liberty

当代西方政治理论界因为受到伯林的影响而把贡斯当视为消极自由的提倡者,对贡斯当的自由思想产生了重大误解。贡斯当固然论证了个体独立的权利是现代自由的主要特征,但同时对现代个体自由的弊病如怀疑主义、虚无主义予以了深刻剖析。他认为在面对现代自由的问题时,首先要从现代平等和自由的道德正当性对其进行审慎的辩护,但更重要的是必须开掘现代自由如思想自由、宗教自由,特别是政治自由的积极意义,为个体权利提供有效保障的同时努力克服现代个体自由的弊病和现代性的危机,进而实现个体的完善。对贡斯当自由思想的思想史研究有助于澄清当代西方政治理论界在自由问题上的理论和历史误读。

In contemporary Western political theory,Benjamin Constant is often presented as a precursor of negative liberty because of the influence of Isaiah Berlin.However it is a misunderstanding of Constant＇s theory of liberty.Although he argued that the right of individual independence is the main characteristic of modern liberty,Constant developed a profound analysis of the negative aspects of individual liberty such as the scepticism and nihilism.To confront the problems of modern liberty,Constant thought that it is necessary to defend judiciously modern liberty by establishing the moral legitimacy of modern equality and liberty.But what is more important is to construct the positive value of modern liberty such as intellectual liberty,religious liberty and especially political liberty in order that the abuses of modern liberty and the crisis of modernity could be overcome by the liberty itself when the individual rights could be effectively protected and that the individual perfection could be achieved.A historical presentation of Constant＇s thoughts of liberty will help to clarify the theoretical and historical misunderstanding of liberty in contemporary Western political theory.