观念·知识·理性:现代政治结构之核心要素

Concept,Knowledge,and Rationality:The Core Elements of Modern Political Structure

现代政治结构之根本不同于过往社会形态的方面,就在于它从本质主义出发界定和规定自身,将政治等同于权术、权谋这一根深蒂固的观念改造成朝向终极之善的观念、知识和理性。只有将特殊意志置于一般意志之上、将实践理性置于实用理性之前、将公共意志置于个人意志之首,一种最大限度地实现效率与公平、正义与平等、自由与幸福等价值原则的制度安排才会产生。现代政治观念的确立只是坚定了信念、确定了方向,只有找寻到实现终极之善的手段之善才能确实找到其始点、要素、环节和道路,这是拥有和分有逻各斯而行动的事情,而这就需要知识、理论和思想,而不是情绪、意见和常识。当把观念和知识统合地运用到政治事务中,一种将普遍与特殊、抽象与具体、理论与实践结合到行动中的综合能力和品质就会产生,这就是理性。理智和努斯是实践理性中的两个关键环节,沉思的理智是对不变事物的沉思,实践的理智是对可变事物的考虑,考虑和推理是一回事;努斯则是基于欲求而对某种善的事物的追求,它既要求获得就事物自身而言的真,又要求获得对于人而言像真、似真的事物,即善自身。现代政治结构既是目的性的又是功能性的,一个追求和实现终极之善的政治自身就是善的,其本身就值得追求,因为其本身就是令每个人自愿、充分且合理地表达政治意志的状态;同时它又通过政策设计和制度安排,将每个人对劳动本体论、实践本体论和意志本体论意义上的自由的追求,置于最大的可能性空间之内,将个人意志视作是领悟了国家伦理理念的公共意志而加以贯彻。这是一个遵天人之道而动、照人伦之道而行、据心性之道而思的社会状态,它超越了权力社会而进入了真正的政治社会。

The fundamental difference between the structure of modern politics and the form of past society lies in that it defines and stipulates itself from the perspective of essentialism,and transforms the deep-rooted concept that politics is equal to trickery and machinations into the concept,knowledge and rationality that are oriented towards the ultimate goodness.The establishment of modern political concepts only strengthens beliefs and sets the direction.Only by finding the means to achieve the ultimate good can we truly find its starting point,elements,links,and path.This requires knowledge,theory,and thought,rather than emotions,opinions,and common sense.When concepts and knowledge are integrated into political affairs,the comprehensive ability and quality that combine universality and particularity,abstract and concrete,theory and practice into action will emerge,which is rationality.The modern political structure is both purposeful and functional,and the politics that pursues and realizes the ultimate good itself is good.At the same time,through policy design and institutional arrangements,it embodies everyone’s pursuit of freedom in the sense of labor ontology,practical ontology,and will ontology.This is a social state that follows the principles of heaven and man,follows the principles of human relations,and thinks according to the principles of mind and nature.It transcends the power society and enters the true political society.