法律与伦理之间:传统中国复仇行为的正当性及限度

Between Law and Ethics:Legitimacy and Limits of Traditional Revenge Action in China

传统中国的复仇行为既是一种需要法律进行约束的犯罪行为,同时也是儒家道德伦理所推崇的义举。从传统中国的立法和司法实践来看,直系尊长的生命安全和人格尊严在遭受他人的侵犯时,个人救护亲属的行为具有正当性,只要其行为不超过法定限度,均可免责。传统律典中的复仇条款与现代"正当防卫"制度有一定的相似之处,但古今律文背后所肯定的"正当性"基础有着截然之别。现代正当防卫制度设立的目的在于弥补"公力救济"之不足,及时维护合法权益。而传统律典中的复仇条款设置的目的在于维护最基本的人伦道德。传统人伦道德作为一种生活原理,从古至今一直影响着中国人的思维方式。重伦理,讲情义仍然是中国人内心所独有的文化气质。当代中国法制建设以良法善治为目标,必然要追寻法律与伦理之间的平衡基点。

The traditional Chinese act of revenge is not only a criminal act that needs to be bound by law,but also a righteous act which is respected by the Confucian moral ethics.According to the traditional Chinese legislation and judicial practices,the act of an individual rescuing relatives is justified when the life safety and human dignity of a person is violated by others.An exemption may be granted provided that the act does not exceed the statutory limit.There are some similarities between the vengeance clause in the traditional code and the modern ＂justifiable defense＂ system,but the basis of the ＂legitimacy＂ that is affirmed behind the ancient and modern laws is quite different.The purpose of the modern self-defense system is to make up for the shortage of public remedy and timely protection of legitimate rights and interests.The purpose of the revenge clause in the traditional law is to maintain the most basic ethics.As a principle of life,traditional human ethics has influenced the Chinese way of thinking since ancient times.It is still the unique cultural temperament of the Chinese people to stress ethics and to talk about friendship and justice.The goal of contemporary China＇s legal system is good law and good governance.We must pursue the balance between law and ethics.