家庭的自然史与约翰·米勒对商业社会的构想

The Natural History of Family and John Millar’s Formulation of the Commercial Society

18世纪约翰·米勒在其《等级差序的起源》一书中将家庭的历史置于“狩猎、游牧、农业、商业”的四阶段中论述。他对个体权利的历史叙述与他的商业社会构想密切相关。米勒注意到商业社会中妇女地位的改善,并视其为商业社会的一大优势,同时他也注意到商业精神对道德情感的腐蚀。他希望家庭能够作为培养道德情感、对抗道德败坏的温床,并将家庭经济作为抵御贫困的一个手段。米勒对家庭的历史以及家庭成员权利的论断为现代社会的家庭关系提供了参照。

John Millar,the Scottish philosopher in the18th century,narrated a history of family in the frame of four stages as“hunting,pasture,agriculture and commerce”in The Origins of Distinction of Ranks.Millar argued that the rights of individuals had changed in different stages,and the rights of women had gradually improved with the economic development.There was a close relationship between Millar’s arguments about the rights and his formulation of the commercial society.He noticed the improvement in the status of women and saw it as a major advantage in the commercial society.Miller recognized the commercial spirit would bring the corruption of the moral sentiments.He hoped that the family would be a hotbed of good sentiments to safeguard the individuals against moral corruption,and that the domestic economy could alleviate the poverty in societies.Millar’s assertions on the history of the family and the rights of family members provides a reference for family relationships in modern societies.