霍布斯论平等

Hobbes's theory of equality

文章系统地分析了霍布斯哲学理论中数学概念"相等"以及实践哲学概念"平等"的内涵;并在此基础上通过比较指明了两者的相关性。霍布斯在两种意义上使用"相等"概念:该概念的一般用法是意指具有量的规定性的不同对象在量上的同一关系;其特殊用法是意指缺乏量的规定性的不同对象(比如几何点与几何点、瞬时与瞬时)的不可公度性的事实。霍布斯在两种意义上使用"平等"概念:自然平等意指自然人由于无法确定测度彼此的未来行动,从而引起的不安全感或在行动上不确定的心理状态;政治平等则意指国家成员的行动品质和行动与国家法相符合的特征。这样,霍布斯实践哲学中的"政治平等"与"自然平等"概念可以看作是其数学中"相等"概念两种用法的延伸;只是在其实践哲学中,待比较的对象不是量,而是行动者的行为;充当公度的不是数学单位,而是国家法。

This paper gives a systematical analysis of Hobbes' s concept of equality.Equality is used by Hobbes both as a mathematical concept and a political concept.In mathematical philosophy,Hobbes employs equality in two senses: usually,it refers to the identical relationship in terms of quantity between objects that are qualified in terms of quantity; and on special occasions,it refers to the fact of incommensurability between objects that cannot be qualified in terms of quantity( such as those between geometrical points or instant moments).In his practical science,equality is also used in two senses: natural equality refers to the sense of insecurity or behavioral indeterminacy caused by natural persons' inability to predicate mutual future actions,while political equality refers to the concord between the character or action of the members of the Commonwealth and the civil law.In a sense,the concept of political and natural equality in Hobbes' practical philosophy can be viewed as the extension of his mathematical concept of equality,except that in moral philosophy,it is not quantity,but moral action,that is the object of comparison; and it is not mathematical units,but the civil law,that is the common measure.