奥克肖特论政治思想史研究

Michael Oakeshott on Study of History of Political Thought

迈克尔·奥克肖特是20世纪英美学界治政治思想史名家。相比于此领域几种主要的研究路径,其对政治思想史研究所作的反思和讨论具有独到的学术价值,因而不容忽视。第一,奥克肖特认为,政治思想之内涵不是单义的,不可以定义的方式把握之,而需要在学术传统中探寻政治思想的范围。第二,因为政治思想具有不同的层次,所以政治思想史研究中历史的观点和哲学的观点可以并行不悖。第三,奥克肖特反对一种找寻作者式的研究路径,但其观点与伽达默尔的诠释学亦有所分别。第四,奥克肖特批评政治思想史研究中实践考量的渗入,而提倡一种为历史而历史的纯粹研究的态度。当然,奥克肖特式的融贯论没有完全解决历史真实性的问题,历史与实践两分的哲学构想,也缺少必要的学理支撑,这是其政治思想史研究的局限所在。

Michael Oakeshott was one of the most outstanding scholars in history of political thought of the 20th century. Compared to several main approaches in academic community, his reflection and discussion on history of political thought with has its own value, which should not be neglected. First, in OakeshotC s view, the meaning of political thought is vague and complicated, which is difficult to make a precise definition. Therefore, if one knows the academic tradition well, he will know the scope of political thought properly. Second, Political Thought has different levels,therefore, in history of political thought, historical standpoint and philosophical views are not contradictory. Third, Oakeshott opposes a kind of search of the author approach, but his idea is different from Gadamer＇s Hermeneutics als0. Fouth, Oakeshott is against the idea that the study of political thought should serve a kind of practical consideration, from his point of view, there is no other reason for the research of political thought, but for its own. However, Oakeshotfs coherentism does not fully solve the problem of Historical authenticity. The philosophical conceptions of separatkng the history and practice,also lacks the necessary theoretical support. These are his limitations.