论《艰难时世》《功利主义》《论边沁》中共同的情感结构

The Structures of Feeling in Hard Times,Utilitarianism and On Bentham

狄更斯和穆勒分别在《艰难时世》《功利主义》和《论边沁》三部著作中对边沁的功利主义学说做出回应。两人看似立场殊异,实则殊途同归。他们倡导个体权利、反对机械化的情感计算方式、坚持精神至上的价值判断,试图从对象、方法论和价值观三个层面对功利主义学说进行全面弥合,表现出了共同的情感结构。这种情感结构一定程度上代表着彼时文化界对边沁学说的接受和反拨,为深入探析功利主义哲学影响下的文化模式和意识结构提供了管中窥豹的一个片段。

In Hard Times,Utilitarianism and On Bentham,Charles Dickens and John Stuart Mill responded separately to Utilitarianism put forward by Jeremy Bentham. Their seemingly opposing arguments actually share some common ground. Both of them attempted to modify utilitarian doctrines by advocating individual rights,objecting to the mechanical method of calculation and emphasizing spiritual happiness as against sensual pleasures. Their arguments manifest the same structures of feeling in their response to Utilitarianism from the perspectives of objects,methodology and judgment of value. To some extent these structures of feeling reflect how Utilitarianism was received and responded in the literary circle,hence provide a sample study on cultural pattern and ideological formation in mid-nineteenth century.