作为政治修辞的天赋人权

On Natural Right as Political Rhetoric

天赋人权乃是一种应然的道德权利观念而非实然的法定权利,它是针对君权神授论而提出的一种政治学说。在天赋人权说看来,政治共同体是由人民签订契约而形成的,因而国家和君主的统治权源于人民的出让而非上帝的授予。人民签订契约,交出自己的一部分权利,目的是使政治共同体能够保护其原本具有的自由与平等。捍卫人之自由平等、使人成其为人,乃是天赋人权说的核心内涵。作为反对君权神授、主张社会契约和捍卫自由平等的政治修辞,天赋人权说并未过时,它依然是一种推进人权事业的思想源泉。

Natural right is a kind of moral right rather than a legal right.It is a political theory directed against the divine right of kings.According to the theory of natural right,the political community is formed by the people signing a contract with the state,so the ruling power of the state and the monarch comes from the rights transferred from the people rather than the grant of God.The purpose of people signing contract and handing over part of their rights is to enable the political community to protect their original freedom and equality.Therefore,it is the core connotation of the theory of natural right to protect the freedom and equality of each individual and make him a human being.As a political rhetoric against the divine right of kings,advocating social contract and defending freedom and equality,the theory of natural right is not out of date;it is still a source of thought to promote the cause of protecting human rights.