迻译与拒弃:近代中国权利观形成中的自主性

Transplantation and Rejection:Autonomy in the Formation of the Conception of Rights in Modern China

随着自由权利概念的输入,近代中国权利观也得以形成,但其间仍存在着迻译与拒弃之间的张力,并蕴含了一种以中国传统文化为底蕴的自主性立场。将严复及其相关的思想文本作为个案加以考察,便可窥见这种立场的基本内蕴。正是基于这种立场,严复没有完整接受以穆勒为代表的西方古典自由主义思想传统,而且时常保有一种敢于拒弃的批判精神。但严复一贯具有保守倾向,应从一种参酌了严复所坚守的传统道德理想的立场对其给予评价。即使晚年的严复在一定程度上退回传统保守立场的事实无可否认,他也未像日本近代启蒙思想家加藤弘之在其学术生涯的中晚期那样发生急剧的思想转向。这意味着严复作为近代中国“头号”的社会达尔文主义者竟然没有顺势滑向当时盛行各国的强权主义权利观。这同样得益于严复所坚守的以中国传统文化为根基的道德理想。以此为核心的自主性立场,也使得严复有关自由权利的思想具有了强韧的生命力,对于我国现行宪法亦具有一定的意义。

With the introduction of the concept of rights of freedom,modern Chinese views on rights began to take shape.However,this development was marked by a tension between translation and rejec-tion,reflecting a stance rooted in traditional Chinese culture.Examining the ideas and texts of Yan Fu and his related works provides insight into this fundamental position.Yan Fu's stance was shaped by this background,leading him to not fully embrace the classical liberalism of the Western tradition as repre-sented by thinkers like John Stuart Mill.Instead,he maintained a critical spirit that was willing to reject aspects of Western thought.Despite his conservative tendencies,which should be evaluated in the con-text of the traditional moral ideals he upheld,Yan Fu did not experience a dramatic shift in thought,un-like Japanese modern Enlightenment thinker Kato Hiroyuki,who underwent a significant ideological transformation in the later stages of his career.This consistency in Yan Fu's views implies that,as a leading social Darwinist in modern China,he did not succumb to the prevailing authoritarian perspectives of his time.This consistency is attributed to Yan Fu's adherence to moral ideals grounded in traditional Chinese culture.This core autonomous stance endowed Yan Fu's ideas on freedom rights with enduring vitality,which continues to have relevance even in the context of China's current constitution.