殖民地与大英帝国的价值困境:柏克的“自由帝国”思想

The Value Plight of Colonies and British Empire:Burke's Idea of the “Free Empire”

本文以大英帝国及其在殖民地问题上所面临的价值困境为背景,考察柏克的"自由帝国"思想。柏克"自由帝国"思想的核心是强调多元并存、自由正义的普遍主义价值观,但是,作为价值规范的帝国理想与大英帝国的政治实践之间存在着矛盾,这一矛盾在美洲、印度和爱尔兰等殖民地问题上以尖锐的形式突显出来。其中,美洲问题挑战的价值主要是自由,而印度问题挑战的价值则主要是正义。本文以柏克对美洲问题和印度问题的思考来揭示其在帝国与殖民地关系问题上的矛盾与纠结,展示其"自由帝国"的价值诉求在实践中所面临的困境。

Based on the dilemma of the British Empire and its colonial problems,this paper is designed to examine Burke's idea of'free Empire'.The core of Burke's'empire of liberty'thought is to emphasize the universal values of pluralism,freedom and justice.However,there is a contradiction between the imperial ideal as a norm of value and the political practice of the British Empire,which is highlighted in a sharp form in the colonial issues in America,India and Ireland.Among them,the challenged value in American issue is freedom,while in Indian issue justice.Based on Burke's reflection on the American and the Indian issue,this paper reveals the contradictions and entanglements in the relationship between the Empire and the colonies,and demonstrates the predicament confronted by value pursuit of the'free Empire'in practice.