民主与自由之间:托克维尔论现代社会的公民德性

Between Democracy and Liberty:Tocqueville on Civic Virtue in Modern Society

托克维尔最早对作为社会现象的民主进行了富有科学性的考察。在他看来,以身份的平等化为内核的民主潮流不可阻挡,而当今世界的现实发展趋向则印证了他的判断。但民主有其阴暗面,包括多数的暴政、强化的中央集权制以及被削弱的国家力量等,这些都对自由产生威胁。在民主现实与自由关怀之间,公民德性的重要性得以凸显,它以“正确理解的利益”原则为起点,实现了民主与自由、个人利益与公共行动之间的平衡。

Tocqueville was one of the first political thinkers who had made scientific investigations of democracy as a social phenomenon.In his view,the trend of democracy based on equality of conditions was unstoppable.The situation of today's world has undoubtedly confirmed his judgment.Nevertheless,democracy has its dark side,including the tyranny of the majority,the strengthening of administrative centralization and the weakening of state power,which all threaten the liberty cherished by Tocqueville.Thus,between the reality of democracy and the concern about liberty,the importance of civic virtue was highlighted.By means of the principle of self-interest rightly understood,the balances between democracy and liberty and between individual interests and public actions are realized.Given this,civic virtues should be cultivated through various measures which are conducted by leaders in democratic times,such as township,association,jury,religion,mores and political rights.Only by this,could democracy be guided in a good direction.