弗朗西斯·培根的国家理性论

Francis Bacon’s Theory of the Reason of State

培根是国家理性思潮在英格兰传播及演变过程中的关键人物。他看似矛盾的政治立场可以在国家理性的逻辑中得到更好的理解。国家理性思潮到培根这里才算真正颠覆了亚里士多德以来的古典政治传统,并确立起政治的自主地位。除了以必然性原则为维护国家利益的政治手段进行辩护,他还从英格兰现实出发,提出商贸和海权两种符合国家理性的政治主张。宪政传统对于培根来说并不构成对国家理性的限制,反而能够规范国家权力,奠定现代国家的合法性基础。

Bacon was a key figure in the history of the reason of state in England.His seemingly contradictory political stance can be better understood with the logic of the reason of state.Bacon changed the classical natural concepts and political traditions dating back from Aristotle,established the independence of politics.In addition to supporting the necessity of achieving national interests,Bacon proposed two other ways to achieve national interests:trade and sea power.In his view,the constitutional tradition did not restrict the reason of state.Instead,it regulated state power and laid the foundations of the legitimacy of the modern state.