王权困境:卢瑟福《法律与君王》的问题、思路和意义

The Impasse of Royal Power: Rutherford's Engagement in the Lex,Rex

卢瑟福的《法律与君王》以自卫理论为基础,激烈地攻击绝对王权观念和王位血缘继承制。该书出版后,在英国政治思想界,绝对王权观基本上失去了号召力。该书的全部立论其实乃是一种对圣经的独特解读。在卢瑟福和他对手之间的争论中,圣经是他们的共同引用文本。由于卢瑟福对圣经的解读具有深刻的生存力量,所以能够在英国思想界引起共鸣。深入理解卢瑟福的圣经解读可以帮助我们追踪思想史的发展动力。

Rutherford＇s The Law and the Prince argues for a theory of self-defense, and attacks fiercely the notion of absolute royal power and the kingship of royal birth. To the intellectuals of England in the middle of sixteen century, its publication brought an end to the notion of absolute royal power. This book reveals that its intellectual power comes from its unique interpretation of the Bible. It is interesting to point out that, both Rutherford and his opposites commonly reference to the Bible as the solid evidence to their arguments. However, Rutherford＇s interpretation of the Bible demonstrates a much stronger power over his opposites＇. It was this power that aroused a widespread echo from the contemporary intellectuals in England. A deeper understanding of Rutherford＇s interpretation of the Bible may help penetrate into the dynamic of the thought in England in the sixteen century.