詹姆斯·麦迪逊的人性观与宪法思想

The Theory of Human Nature and Constitutional Design of James Madison

麦迪逊认为,人性中的美德与瑕垢、理性与激情是人的同一品性的不同表现,而不是两种矛盾品性的共存。他的人性观是经验的和一般的,而不是抽象的和单一的善恶假定。这与他看重外部激励与立宪层面的制度设计是一致的。麦迪逊的人性观与他的共和思想是一致的,其强调共同体的“永久和长远利益”,不同于现代多元主义将公共利益视为个人利益加总的看法,这反映在他赞同在立宪设计时通过“以野心对抗野心”的制衡机制来改善公共决策的品质的观点上。麦迪逊的思想源于时代,也超越了时代。

and singular assumptions of good and evil.This is consistent with his emphasis on external incentives on individual choice and constitutional design.Madison's view of human nature was consistent with his republican ideology,which emphasized the“permanent and long-term good”of the community,unlike the modern pluralist view of the public interest as the sum of individual interests,which was reflected in his endorsement of the quality of public decision-making through the“ambition against ambition”mechanism of checks and balances in constitutional design.Madison's ideas originated from and transcended his era.