霍布斯人性论的历史价值

The Historical Value of Hobbes’ Theory of Human Nature

霍布斯作为欧洲启蒙时期的代表人物,其对于人的自然状态的剖析和对于人性的界定,引入了对于人性中动物本能的研究,将人性以人本身为主体进行了界定,并在此基础之上,得出了人需要自我保全与人性具有自私倾向性的结论,为近代功利主义奠定了思想基础。在人性论基础之上,霍布斯所提出的契约论不仅在当时形成对于君权神授制度思想的冲击,在当代依旧影响着伦理学、哲学、法学等诸多领域。但在其人性论中,霍布斯将自私进行了绝对化,他认为人的运动和情感都是在一种机械的机制下产生的。在对于人性探索的整体历史脉络中,霍布斯的观点具有明显的时代局限性。

As a representative figure in the European Enlightenment period,Hobbes analyzed the natural state of human beings and defined human nature,introduced the study of animal instincts in human nature,defined human nature as the main body of human beings,and on the basis of which,he drew to the conclusion that human beings need self-preservation and human nature tends to be selfish.This conclusion laid the ideological foundation for modern utilitarianism.On the basis of his human nature theory,the contract theory proposed by Hobbes not only challenged the idea of the divine right of kings at that time,but also continues to influence many fields such as ethics,philosophy,law in modern times.However,in his theory of human nature,Hobbes absolutized selfishness,believing that human movement and emotion are generated by a mechanical mechanism.So,Hobbes’view has obvious limitations in the overall historical exploration of human nature.