功利主义会导致多数人暴政吗?——功利主义与自由主义之关系辨析

Will Utilitarianism Lead to Tyranny of the Majority:Analysis of the Relationship between Utilitarianism and Liberalism

功利主义的"最大幸福原则"有一个隐含命题即"自由是最大的功利"。由于忽视这一命题,罗尔斯指责功利主义会导致多数人暴政,即多数人对少数人自由权利的剥夺。为同功利主义划清界限,罗尔斯在他的两个正义原则中强调"最少受惠者"的利益。然而在哈桑伊看来,罗尔斯在"无知之幕"的原始状态下通过"极大极小规则"得出的正义论本质上也属于功利主义。功利主义与自由主义是可以相容的,密尔同时主张功利主义和自由主义展现了二者结合的可能性。事实上,在防止多数人暴政和主张平等的自由这两方面,罗尔斯与密尔是殊途同归的。

Utilitarianism’s principle of maximum happiness has an implicit proposition that"freedom is the greatest utility". By ignoring this proposition,Rawls accused utilitarianism of causing tyranny of the majority,that is,the majority deprive the minority of freedom. In order to draw a line with utilitarianism,Rawls emphasizes the interests of"least beneficiaries"in his two principles of justice. However,in Harsanyi’s view,Rawls’ s theory of justice,which was derived from the"maxmin rule"in the original position of"the veil of ignorance",was essentially uilitarianism. Utilitarianism and liberalism are compatible. Mill advocated utilitarianism and liberalism at the same time. This shows the possibility of the combination of the two. In fact,Rawls and Mill are in the same trench to prevent the tyranny of the majority and advocate the equal freedom.