康德的平等理论

Kant’s Theory of Equality

康德的平等理论意蕴丰盈、别具一格,它展现为三个层次:理性的平等、权利的平等和政治的平等。理性的平等是指人作为理性存在者享有同等的形而上学地位,具有同样的任意自由。这也蕴含着理性平等的规范性主张,即将其他理性存在者也视为目的。同时,每个理性存在者禀有天赋权利,这种权利由外在自由的先天普遍原则规定,从而每个理性存在者具有权利的平等。在康德哲学中,权利的先天体系预设了公共强制力,公民状态中理性存在者的平等就体现为首脑与臣民双重身份构成的政治平等。康德的平等理论是对近代政治哲学批判综合的成果,又以其先天特征区别于当代种种经验性的平等理论,值得关注和研究。

Kant's theory of equality is rarely discussed specifically,but it is meaningful and profound.It manifests itself in three levels:rational equality,right equality and political equality.Rational equality means that human beings as rational beings have the same metaphysical status and the same freedom of choice.It also contains the normative claim that regards other rational beings as ends in themselves.At the same time,every rational being is endowed with innate rights,which are determined by the universal principle of external freedom,so that every rational being has the equality of innate rights.In Kant's philosophy,the system of rights presupposes the public coercive force,and the equality of rational beings in the civil state is embodied by the political equality established by the identity of heads and subjects.Kant's theory of equality is the result of his criticism of modern political philosophy,and it is different from all kinds of contemporary theory of equality with its a priori characteristics,which deserves our attention and research.