功利与自由:密尔道德权利理论的旨趣依归

Utility and liberty: The ultimate purport of J. S. Mill's moral rights theory

在对密尔功利主义理论的探讨过程中,关于密尔的功利主义理论对功利与权利的道德诉求,可能会产生两种不同的观点:一是密尔的权利理论主张人拥有受尊重的一些权利,这种主张常常与义务论道德理论架构相关联,从而背离了其所致力于阐述和辩护的功利主义精神;二是密尔功利主义以追求幸福的最大化为最终原则,其结果必然导致对他人正当权利的侵犯,从而导致密尔功利主义在功利和权利的道德诉求之间存在明显的理论张力。事实上,密尔功利主义理论能有效地避免了以上两种理论困境。他对功利和权利的道德诉求在理论上是融贯一致的,其道德权利理论采纳的是一种依照道德常识的,以功利和自由为旨趣依归的间接功利主义。

In the discussion of J. S. Mill＇ s utilitarianism and his moral demands of utilitarian and rights,there may be two different viewpoints. First,Mill＇ s theory of rights advocates that people have some rights for respect,and this advocacy is often associated with the framework of deontological ethics,which is inconsistent with its essential spirit of utilitarianism dedicated to interpretation and defense. Second,Mill＇ s utilitarianism takes the maximization of the pursuit of happiness as its ultimate principle,and it will inevitably end up by leading to the invasions on the rights of others,so there is apparent tension between the pursuit of utility and rights in Mill＇ s theory of utilitarianism. In fact,Mill＇ s utilitarianism can effectively avoid the two above-mentioned theoretic dilemmas. His moral appeals for utility and rights are theoretically consistent,his moral rights theory adopts a kind of indirect utilitarianism which is in accordance with the moral sense,and takes utility and liberty as the ultimate purport.