从“公民友爱”到“兄弟之爱”——古罗马社会救助伦理的发展

FromPhiliato Agape:The Development of the Social Aid Ethics in Ancient Rome

古代罗马的社会救助伦理经历了从传统的"公民友爱"到基督教的"兄弟之爱"的发展。在传统伦理下,人生目的在追求幸福,幸福、美德与善是不可分的。善行意在实现美德,体现的是友爱,遵循对等、互惠、正义的原则。它以城邦及其土地占有制度为基础,以公民为对象。随着这些基础的消失,这种伦理观念及其所依附的善行代救济的救助机制也逐渐被抛弃;在基督教的伦理中,人生目的在永生的救赎,信仰与爱不可分割。善行体现的是对神的信仰和爱,以救济贫困为目的。它以所有人为对象,展示的是兄弟之爱,其社会基础是帝国体制。基督教扩充了爱,把信仰、爱与美德统一起来,发展了传统的救助伦理。这种伦理及其所依附的救助体制超越了狭隘的城邦意识,顺应了罗马帝国发展的需要,最终成为主导机制。

The social aid ethics in ancient Rome had developed from the traditional civic philia to the Christian agape or charity.In the traditional philosophy,the aim of life is to pursue happiness which is inseparable from virtue and goodness. As a "philia exclusively among citizens rather than poor relief,benevolence or evergetisme is in itself and for civic virtue based on principles of equality,reciprocity and righteousness.Depending on the city-state and especially its land tenureship,it fails to survive with the collapse and disappearance of the foundation.For Christians,the aim of life is the eternity or salvation based on the faith in God and evinced by agape or brotherly love.As the agape encompassing all human beings and the poor relief in itself,benevolence or almsgiving is the token of faith and the love toward God in terms of need rather than citizenship.The Christian soeial aid ethics which coincides with and voluntarily adapts itself to the emerging Roman Empire had inherited and updated the traditional one by adding faith and enhancing love to the existing virtues before its institution became the new establishment.