梅斯特与卢梭社会思想之比较

Similarities and Differences between Thoughts of Maistre and Rousseau

约瑟夫·德·梅斯特与卢梭的思想通常被视为是截然相对的。但是,立场上的对立却无法掩盖两人思想之间更为复杂的关系。这种关系,在他们有关政治社会的理论中,明显地体现出来。在论及人性、社会的产生与发展、维护良好社会的诸要素等问题时,两人理论的出发点和结论几乎全然相反,梅斯特对卢梭也进行了猛烈的抨击。但同时,他对主权、立法者和宗教的作用等问题的看法,又与卢梭存在着一致性。更重要的是,两人对启蒙哲学的许多基本理论都提出了类似的挑战。从某种程度而言,正是梅斯特的理论捍卫了卢梭思想的本质。

Joseph De Maistre's thought was generally considered as diametrically opposed to Rousseau's. Their antagonistic positions, however, could not cover up their much more complicated intellectual relationship, which was apparently embodied in their theories of politics and society. As to issues such as the occurrence and development of human nature and society and the elements of maintaining a fine society, they were almost completely opposed to each other in their theoretical starting points and conclusions, and Maistre delivered a strong attack against Rousseau as well. On the other hand, his views of sovereignty, legislator and role of religion were quite identical with Rousseau's. What's more, they both issued similar challenges to many basic theories of Enlightenment philosophy. Maistre's theory, in a degree, defended the nature of Rousseau's thought.