保守主义与相对主义:凯尔苏斯对罗马传统的辩护

Conservatism and Relativism: Celsus’ Apology for Roman Traditions

公元2世纪以来,伴随着教会的扩张,基督教对罗马帝国的威胁日益加剧。面对这一现状,罗马哲学家凯尔苏斯(Celsus)深感不安,专门写作《真道》(’Αληθη?Λογο?)(1)一书对基督教进行严厉的批评。在书中他指出,基督徒秘密集会、拒绝承担公职和遵行皇帝崇拜,是对罗马法律的严重触犯。针对他的批评,基督教思想家奥利金(Origen)写作八卷本的《驳凯尔苏斯》(Contra Celsum)②予以回应。奥利金认为,在实在法之外还有一种更高的自然法,后者以自然理性为基础,最终指向于上帝。

Origen responded to the Roman philosopher Celsus’criticism of Christianity from positive law through Christian natural law.What is paradoxical,is that while Celsus could predict Origen’s response,he'responds'beforehand to the Chrisitan theory of natural law in his own further elaboration of law.According to Celsus,each nation has the right to enact legislation.Law is founded on custom,whose foundation is tradition while the foundation of custom and tradition is religion.To prove the differences between different nations’customs,Celsus proposed a mixed theological system of monotheism and polytheism.Celsus’standpoint on religious custom and law entails strong conservatism and relativism.Historically,although Celsus’conservatism and relativism responded to some extent to the challenges brought by Christianity,but theoretically it also faced some difficult-to-resolve tensions.Origen utilizes this tension to offer a more robust defence of Christianity.