摘要
中国传统德治的进路是把道德一统化 ,再把法与道德一体化。这在宗法社会结构和专制统治下是可能甚而合理的 ,但它却是在牺牲法的形式合理性同时也背离道德本性的情形下运作的 ,因而在现代法治和道德精神的框架内 ,会因不具形式上的正当性而无法操作 ,强行操作将导致与法治的背离和对道德本性的反动。文章在对道德与法的功能和属性进行比较的基础上指出 ,法治的正当性不只在于其尊重人权和自由的精神内蕴 ,更在于过程本身的正当性 ,在于通过过程本身的正当来实现结果的正当。这意味着法治是一种根本性的道德 ,即制度的道德。这种制度的道德是个人道德选择和道德生活的预设前提 。
Traditional “rule of virtue' in China consisted of two steps: first, the unification of morals, then their integration with law. This was possible and even proper in a patriarchal society and under despotic rule; it operated, however, at the expense of law and against the nature of morals. Within the framework of the modern rule of law and legal spirit it is unable to operate for lack of justification. Forced operation would run counter to rule of law and the nature of morals. A comparison of the functions and attributes of morals and law shows that the legitimacy of the rule of law lies in its respect for human rights and freedoms and, more importantly, in its procedural legitimacy, i.e, the legitimacy of its procedures guarantees that of its outcomes. In these terms the rule of law is a fundamental virtue, i.e., an institutional virtue providing preconditions for individual and other moral choices.
出处
《中国社会科学》
CSSCI
北大核心
2002年第6期95-104,共10页
Social Sciences in China
基金
国家教育部人文社科基金项目
国家社科基金项目阶段性成果之一
