“开明专制”的内在矛盾——试析维兰德小说《金镜》(第二版)的“宫廷谈话”情节

Inherent Paradox of the Enlightened Despotism:A Study of the “Court Talk” Episode in C.M. Wieland's The Golden Mirror(The Second Edition)

德国作家维兰德的小说《金镜》(第一版1772/第二版1794)所探讨的核心政治问题之一是作为18世纪下半叶欧洲范围内重要历史事件的"开明专制"运动。本文聚焦于《金镜》第二版的"宫廷谈话"情节,经分析认为:该情节中的叙事情境文学化地演示出了18世纪、尤其是"开明专制"时期欧洲/德国的启蒙运动与君主专制政权之间的互动关系;维兰德借该情节中哲学家与君主人物的视角,批判性地探讨了建构于该情节中的启蒙理性对专制权力的"规劝"模式的实践效果;该情节对"开明专制"内在矛盾性的鲜明的文学化演示,折射出维兰德在18世纪末期对于"开明专制"运动的一种明确的质疑与反思立场,这一立场不仅仅体现于小说结尾,而是贯穿于该情节的始终。

In his novel The Golden Mirror(the first edition 1772/the second edition 1794),German writer C.M.Wieland explores several political issues,one of which is the 'Enlightened Despotism'movement,an important historical occurrence in Europe in the second half of the 18th century.This study focuses on the'Court Talk'story from the second edition of The Golden Mirror.The analysis concludes that the narrative in this story illustrates the interactions between the European/German Enlightenment movement and absolute monarchy in the 18th century and especially in the era of the 'Enlightened Despotism'.