评严复的社会起源说

On Yanfu’s Theory of the Origin of Society

严复的社会起源说总共包括三部分 ,即君主起源说、求存合群说 ,“群肇于家”说。前者配合维新运动 ,否定君权神授 ,具有积极意义。次者探索初民合群的动机 ,后者阐明家庭是社会的起点 ,各有合理成分。但在实际上 ,前者和后者并不一致。前者是西方契约理论影响下的产物 ,而后者却是冲破契约理论的锐利武器。总之 。

Yanfu’s theory of the origin of society consists of three parts:the theory of the origin of monarch,the theory of grouping for living and the theory of society originating from family.The first one coordinates the Constitutional Reform and Modernization of 1898 by denying the divine right of kings,so,it has active significance;the second explores the motive of primitive man’s grouping;the third explains that family is the origin of society.Each one has its reasonable points,but in fact the first is the outcome under the influence of the Western Contract Theory, and it is not in agreement with the third which is a sharp weapon against the Contract Theory.In a word,Yanfu’s theory of the origin of society is closely related to his attitude toward the Western Contract Theory.