英国贵族的公共精神及其现代化能力探析

On the Public Spirit and the Modernizing Ability of the English Aristocracy

近代以来,英国贵族在经济上以土地持有为其准入资格条件,从而形成了相对团结一致的阶层认同。在政治上,贵族以控制议会和地方政府为手段,在反对国王专制和防范激进民主的同时,对政治事务富有强烈的参与意识和高度责任感。这逐渐成为了该阶层独特的政治价值取向。公学教育进一步使贵族式的公共精神成为融合新兴有产者、塑造绅士阶层的思想纽带。这一公共精神正是英国贵族不仅免遭革命性毁灭,而且成为英国经济和政治现代化进程之领导者的缘由所在。

In early modern times the English aristocracy had a cohesive force owing to the prerequisite that,being a member of aristocracy,one should be rich by land-possession. They controlled parliament and local government and showed a strong sense of political responsibility. The public schools made the aristocratic spirit and intellective bond which integrated the new riches and molded a gentry class. This kind of public spirit not only helped the English aristocracy avoided revolutionary ruination,it also helped them as the leader in the process of economic and political modernization.