韦伯法社会学概观——聚焦国家与法的理性化

Max Weber's “Sociology of Law”: Focusing on the Rationalization Process of Nation and Law

本文旨在对韦伯《法律社会学》的内容进行比较全面而深入的解读,以进一步揭示相关学说的主要特征和贡献。总体而言,韦伯的学术思想脉络可以从四个维度来梳理和把握,即新教伦理与资本主义精神、宗教社会学和文明比较、官僚制与支配类型以及经济、法律的秩序原理。韦伯的法社会学理论主要与后两个维度的制度条件相关,尤其聚焦法的理性化进程。借助颇有特色的“理想型”社会科学方法,韦伯对法律合理化的历史演变做了类型化考察,建立了现代西方理性法的形式架构,并着重阐述了法律形式主义存续的理由和演变过程。韦伯也从自然法和职业法律家群体中找到了形式理性法之外的非形式化和法律变革的契机。另外,韦伯对传统中国的官僚机构和法律秩序,提出了“家产官僚制”“实质争议”等很有穿透力的问题或命题,值得学界进一步深入拓展,以推动知识创新和制度创新的持续发展。

This article aims to provide a comprehensive and in-depth interpretation of Max Weber's Sociology of Law in order to further reveal the main features and contributions of related theories.It is believed that Weber's ideological framework can be sorted and grasped in four dimensions,namely Protestant ethics and capitalist spirit,religious sociology and civilization comparison,bureaucratic system and types of domination,and the principles of economic,social,and legal order.Weber's sociological theory of law is mainly related to the institutional conditions of the last two dimensions,focusing on the rationalization process of law.With the help of distinctive ideal-type methods,Weber conducted typological investigations on rationality and governance styles,established the formal framework of modern rational law,and emphasized the reasons and evolution process of the existence of legal formalism.At the same time,he also found moments of non-formalization and transformation in the natural law and legal profession.In addition,Weber also raised some insightful questions or propositions about the bureaucratic system and legal order in traditional China,which are worth further consideration in order to promote knowledge and institutional innovation.