必然·权利·市场--近代英国探索自由的三维向度

在近代英国,自由的探索在三个维度上展开:一是在哲学领域围绕自由和必然的关系,探讨人的主体能力,力图说明人的自由在于认识必然性并遵循必然性规律行事;二是在社会政治领域围绕自由和权利及权力的关系,探究政权合法性与权力的合理使用,力图论证人的自由在于确定权利的合法来源以及权力的合理界限,并对防止权力滥用进行有效的制度安排;三是在经济领域围绕自由和市场的关系,探索国民财富增长、资源配置的最优化和生产利润的最大化,力图确认人的自由在于实现市场这只“看不见的手”与政府这只“看得见的手”之间的动态平衡。

Three Dimensions to Explore Freedom in Modern England

In modern England,a probe into freedom was made in three ways: in the philosophical field,by studying the subjective power,the relation between freedom and necessity was so well discussed as to show that human freedom lies in the knowledge of necessity and in the use of natural laws to think and act;in the political field,by studying the legitimacy of right and the utilization of power,the relation between freedom and right with power was so well analyzed as to prove that human freedom lies in the correct definition of right and power,and the rational making of institution against the abuse of power;in the economic field,by studying the growth of national wealth,the system optimization of resources,and the profit maximization of production,the relation between freedom and market was so well investigated as to dedicate that human freedom lies in the dynamic balance between the "invisible hand" called market and the "visible hand" called government.