传统民本论的起源、理论构建与双重面相

Traditional People-Centered Theory:Origin,Theory Construction and Dual Aspects

商周时期,统治者以“畜众”和“保民”等责任承诺,将“民”带入了“受命于天”观念。春秋时期,“得民者昌,失民者亡”的普遍共识,引发了如何争取民心的策略性考量。在重民论的滥觞中,立君为民、人民同意和反抗暴政等主张也悄然出现,构成了民本论的另一副面相。孟子的“民贵君轻”体现了中庸调和之道,主张君权合法性应基于人民同意,将民意表达形式具体化、对反抗暴政行为正当性的论述,都极大拓展了民本论的理论空间,也凸显了作为政治原则的民本论“道”的一面;但劝诱君主的游说策略,也使孟子的民本论显露出“得民之术”的一面。在中国历史上,以民为目的的民本论和作为“得民之术”的重民论,都真实存在过,以民为目的的全民目的论深刻影响和塑造了中国近代的民主观念。

During the period of the Shang and Zhou dynasties(approx.1600BC—256BC),with the responsibility promises of"nourishing the people"and"protecting the people",the rulers brought"people"into their philosophy of"ruling by the grace of the Heaven".During the Spring and Autumn period(770BC—476BC),the general consensus that"those who gain the people prosper while those who lose the people perish"triggered strategic reflections on how to win the hearts of the people.When the"valuing the people"theory originated,claims such as"setting the monarch for the people","for the the people's consent"and"combat against tyranny"also appeared,which constituted another aspect of the people-centered theory.Chinese philosopher Mencius believes that"the people is important while the ruler least",which reflects the doctrine of the mean.He enriched people-centered theory and highlighted its"Way"side as a political principle with the arguments that"the legitimacy a monarchy should be based on the people's consent",supporting the legitimacy of resisting tyranny,and concretizing the channels to public opinions.However,his persuasion tactics to rulers reveal the aspect of"the art of winning the people".In Chinese history,both the people-centered theory and"valuing the people"theory have truly existed,and such people skops theory has influenced and shaped the concept of democracy in modern China.