马克思市民社会理论的得与失——兼谈中国体制转轨下社会基础缺失问题

On the Gain and Loss of Marx’s Theory of Civic Society—— With Reference to the Problem of Absence of Social Foundation in the Chinese Process of Institutional Transition

马克思的市民社会理论发端于对黑格尔"头足倒置"的市民社会理论的唯物主义"翻转"。这种"翻转"是有得亦有失的。最为卓越的建树在于,在"翻转"中马克思以市民社会为切入点,建构了一套被称为唯物史观的崭新的历史观理论系统之基本框架,此为马克思思想体系的核心;然而,由于马克思在19世纪40年代所处的特殊历史语境和他本人的特殊理论诉求,马克思在这种"翻转"中难免会矫枉过正,致使市民社会这一重要范畴被消融于其他范畴,因而成了一个"消失了的范畴"。将市民社会范畴重新纳入马克思思想体系,需要对唯物史观理论系统之基本框架作重新阐述,将它理解为一个具有结构层次性和辩证逻辑的中介性的架构,使得市民社会范畴成为其中的一个有机组成部分。一个经过重新认识的正确的市民社会理论,对于理解和解决中国体制转轨下社会基础缺失这一现实问题无疑具有现实指导意义。

Marx＇s theory of civic society originates from the materialistic overturn of Hegel＇s theory of civic society. Such an overturn results in both gain and loss. For the former, Marx developed a theo- retical framework on history known as the materialist theory of history which constructs the core com- ponent in Marxism. However, due to the special mood in the historical context in the 1840＂s, as well as to Marx＇s own special pursuit in his research work, he actually over-corrected the Hegelian theory in his overturn strive. Civic society as a crucial norm was melted into other norms and has turned out as a ＂missed＂ norm. To bring the norm into Marx＇s thought, a necessary step is to re-state the materialist theory of history by introducing new perspectives such that the norm civic society may be compromised in the theoretical system. A re-stated theory of civic society can provides certain guideline to or some policy implications on the problem of absence of social foundation in the Chinese process of institutional transition.