孙宇辰
摘要：什么是现代政治？现代政治是如何形成与运转的？如何评价现代政治的道德价值？早在18世纪，休谟就在古今之变的视野中，对这些问题进行了深入的思考。但是休谟在这方面的努力，尚未得到充分的重视。本文探究休谟的现代政治观，弥补既有研究的不足。休谟认为，16世纪以来逐渐形成的欧洲国家体系是现代政治的本质特征：在国家治理中，商业与奢侈的发展和王权的上升使现代国家建立了统一的权威和常规的法治，更好地保障个人自由；在国际关系中，现代政治的目标不应该是通过战争和征服来实现荣耀，而应该是维持国际权力平衡。休谟认为现代政治比古代和中世纪政治更加平等和自由，更加人道，更有利于文明进步，因而具有更高的道德价值。理解休谟的现代政治观，有助于我们更加全面地认识现代政治和现代政治思想。
关键词：休谟；现代政治；商业；自由；权威
【作者】孙宇辰，伦敦国王学院政治经济学系博士候选人。
【Title】David Hume on the Modus Operandi and Moral Values of Modern Politics
Abstract: What is modern politics? How has modern politics been formed, and how does it function? How should we evaluate the moral value of modern politics? As early as in the eighteenth century, David Hume supplied in-depth thoughts concerning these questions through the lens of the historical changes from ancient through medieval to modern times. However, Hume’s effort in this respect has not yet received much scholarly appreciation. This article fills this gap by exploring Hume’s thoughts on modern politics. Hume regarded the European states system, which gradually came into being since the sixteenth century, as the essential character of modern politics. In domestic governance, because of the development of commerce and luxury and the rise of monarchical power, the modern state established a unified authority and a regular rule of law, which was beneficial to the security of personal liberty. In international relations, the aim of modern politics should be the preservation of the international balance of power, rather than the pursuit of glory through war and conquest. Hume believed that modern politics had a higher moral value than ancient or medieval politics, because it granted more equality and freedom, admitted of more humanity, and could better promote civilization. Understanding Hume’s thoughts on modern politics could help us achieve a more comprehensive knowledge of modern politics and modern political thought.
Key words: Hume, Modern politics, Commerce, Liberty, Authority