功利概念的发展——对休谟与边沁道德理论的互文性解读

The Development of the Concept of Utility-An intertextual reading of Hume's and Bentham's moral theories

休谟与边沁对功利概念的探索与研究,在哲学史上分别有着丰富的讨论。但是,如果将其放在道德理论的维度中,就会发现它们之间实际上存在着内在的联系。事实上,在这两位哲学家的功利概念中存在着一个不断发展的过程。它是在休谟与边沁不断对功利概念中主观主义的反思和对功利概念的规范性的发掘中逐渐清晰的。一方面,我们要注意到二者在论述功利概念间明显的差别;另一方面,我们要探索二者在道德理论的维度下对功利概念的发展与完善。如何克服功利概念及其之后的功利主义理论的各种问题,从休谟开始至今都是功利主义哲学的核心话题。而对其文本进行互文性解读是解答这一问题的重要方法之一。

Hume's and Bentham's exploration and study of the concept of utility have been richly discussed in the history of philosophy,respectively.However,if they are placed in the dimension of moral theory,it becomes clear that they are in fact intrinsically linked to each other.In fact,there is an ongoing process of development in the utility concepts of these two philosophers.It is gradually made clear by Hume's and Bentham's continuous reflection on the subjectivism in the concept of utility and the discovery of the normative nature of the concept of utility.On the one hand,we have to note the differences between the two in their exposition of the concept of utility;on the other hand,we have to explore the development and refinement of the concept of utility by both in the dimension of moral theory.How to overcome the various problems of the concept of utility and its subsequent theory of utility has been a central topic in utilitarian philosophy from Hume onwards to the present day.And an intertextual reading of his texts is one of the important ways to answer this question.