在变迁的时代读经典

Reading Classics in the Changing Age

我们当下法理学教学中的一个难点是在这个对变化较为敏感的时代，说服学生接受阅读历史文本的现实意义。其实．阅读经典文本对于法学是有用，因为经典文本可以帮助我们理解现在的制度与学说在建立过程中制度化的前见与价值．从而帮助人们决定是否在法律解释时坚持这些前见与价值。不过，要实现这一目的，必须把经典文本置回于它所产生的时代，并与其他的文本对比阅读。利用历史语境还原法阅读经典文本首先有助于我们相对化，从而反思我们现在的制度。其次有助于我们学习如何面对时代发展对制度的挑战．最后也有助于我们在具体个案中决定可能的法律解释。围绕着《中华人民共和国民法总则》（以下简称《民法总则》）第9条的争论可以佐证。

We are experiencing a period of time marked by the changes which makes it challenging to persuade students the utility of reading classical texts. However, legal education can benefit from studying the classics, for they are capable of revealing the underlying pre-understandings and value judgements of our legal doctrine and system. Historical reconstruction of the interventions made by the classics is beneficial in three aspects. First, it enables us to review present institutions critically. Second, we can learn from it the method of encountering challenges of a new era. Third, with the knowledge of pre-understandings and values of the received institutions, we are provided the opportunity to decide whether a renewed interpretation shall be made. The debates centered on ＂General provisions of the civil Law＂ Clause Ninth can be the testimony.