18世纪前西方社会腐败概念的内涵演变——一个思想史的视角

Evolution of Corruption's Connotation in the Western Society before 18th Century——An Intellectual History Perspective

西方社会,腐败概念的内涵经历了一个由"某种状态"到"某一特定行为"的转变。这种转变与人们对政治和道德关系的认识紧密相连。在政治与道德相融合下,腐败多指国家、政治或个人道德所处的某种状态;政治与道德初次分离后,腐败是尘世政治生活不可避免的状态,且无根治良方;在政治与道德再次融合下,腐败内涵复归为政治生活或个人生活的某种状态,并被打上了世俗政权与教会政权矛盾冲突的印记;民族国家兴起后,尤其是在资本主义市场经济的催化下,政治与道德再次分离,腐败开始指向某种特定行为。至此,腐败概念的内涵实现了由传统认知向现代认知的转变。

In the western society,the connotation of the concept of corruption has experienced a course of turning from ＂a kind of status＂to ＂a particular behavior＂,which is closely linked to the shifting of people＇s understanding of the relationship between politics and morality.Under the integration of politics and morality,the connotation refers more to a certain state of a country,politics or personal morality.After the first separation,corruption is an inevitable condition of the political life,and there is no radical cure.When politics and morality integrates again,the connotation returns to a state of political life and personal life,but is deeply marked by the conflicts of the secular power and the church power.With the rising of national states,especially catalyzing by the capitalist economy markets,politics and morality separates again,corruption begins to refer to a certain behavior. At this point,the connotation of the concept of corruption has realized the transition from traditional to modern cognition.