论奥古斯丁的国家观

On Augustine’s Theory of State

奥古斯丁的国家观是同他的基督教神学思想紧密联系在一起的,关于国家的起源、定义以及国家的作用,在奥古斯丁的阐释中,都紧密地围绕基督教教义的阐发。他认为,国家起源于人性的堕落和对复归上帝的向往,世俗的国家是通往上帝之城的途径,因此国家的作用也必然是为了向上帝的回归服务的,不论是惩罚违背上帝意志行为,还是引导人们服从教会,净化心灵都是国家的具体作用,终归的目的在于进入上帝之城,重新实现与上帝的合一。

Augustine’s theory of state is closely linked with his Christian theological theory. Augustine rooted his expiations of the origin, the definition and the role of state in the Christian Doctrines. In his opinion, state originated from the depravity of human nature and the yearning of the reversion of God, and the secular country is just the gateway to the city of God, hence the role of state is also bound to the service of the regression of God. The punishment of the behaviors against the will of God, the guidance to obedience to the Church and the purification of the mind are the specific roles of state. And Augustine insisted that the state’s final purpose is to enter the City of God and to achieve oneness with God again.