理想主义还是乌托邦主义——试论柏拉图对理想国的建构

Idealism or Utopia——On Plato's Ideal State

柏拉图对于城邦的建构方式并不意味着他必定要偏向于某种政治乌托邦主义而游离于现实的政治生活之外,而是意味着他采取了这样一种基本的理想性态度和方法,即我们不仅要关切和反思现实政治生活的合理性,更要在政治生活的道德应当性和完善性的层面及意义上对政治生活进行建构,予以反思。这种理想并不是通过技术理性或手段而得到的可预知的理想,而是属于一种终极性的反思和关怀。这种理想主义作为永恒的超越精神,对现实的政治生活发挥着不可替代的批判和引导作用。对于当代中国的政治实践而言,理想主义仍是不可缺少的重要维度。

Plato＇s ideal state does not mean his deviation from realistically political life. He does not go towards Utopia but adopts an attitude of reason and method, namely, concerning about life and constructing political life. This ideal can not be got by technical means but an ideal that can be predicted and belongs to the ultimate reflection and concern. This idealism is a kind of perpetual spirit of transcendence and plays an irreplaceable function in the political life. With a view to China＇s political practice, idealism is an important dimension.