论政治现象学视域下的“权威”概念

On the Concept of “Authority” from the Perspective of Political Phenomenology

权威的建构与辩护是政治理论中至关重要的一环,进而也与法律正当性相关联。政治现象学通过对现代世界的总体性危机分析,试图从政治生活的“原处”寻找权威这一概念未被遮蔽的面貌,从而为人类开创的政治生活秩序寻找到生存论上的依据。作为政治现象学家的阿伦特通过对近代欧洲政治生活的分析,认为先于宪法的权威不能来源于非理性的绝对权威或者抽象公意,否则将带来逻辑上的“无穷后退”和实践上的暴力滥用。最终,现象学家特以一种原初状态的现象学生存论方法,为人类作为行动的自由奠基。自由秩序的权威的建立,依赖于人类复数性(plurality)的本质和积极生活中的行动(action)。这一观点指明了人类政治性行动的公共性和创造性,对当代社会参与政治理论具有重要价值。

The concept of authority implies obedience with legitimacy, which is completely different from the domination of power or violence, but also excludes human specific rational judgments. Therefore, the construction and justification of authority is a crucial part of political theory. Arendt is facing the overall crisis of the modern world and needs to find a survival theory basis for the freedom order created by humanity. The concept of authority is the key to ensuring that this freedom order does not collapse. This authority that precedes the Constitution cannot originate from irrational absolute authority or abstract public will, otherwise it will lead to logical “infinite retreat” and practical abuse of violence. In the end, Arendt laid the foundation for human freedom of action through a phenomenological existential approach in its original state. The establishment of the authority of a free order relies on the essence of human plurality and actions in active life. This viewpoint points out the public and creative nature of human political actions, providing us with a theoretical defense for safeguarding the right of citizens to participate today. It has reference significance, but there are also many shortcomings that are worthy of our dialectical study and treatment.