学术资讯｜政治哲学工作坊第六十一讲：自然法与人为法之间：韩非子的法治思想

Organizer

Department of Philosophy (Zhuhai)，Sun Yat-sen University

Topic

Between Natural Law and Positive Law: On Han Fei Zi’s Theory of the Rule of Law (Virtual）

Speaker

Tongdong BAI

Professor, School of Philosophy, Fudan University

Moderator

Jun-Hyeok KWAK

Professor, Department of Philosophy (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University

Time

May 24. 2024 15:00-17:00

ID

759-135-416

Abstract

The Chinese Legalists are often condemned as defenders of despotism, but it is obvious that they consider laws (and institutions) to be crucial in governance. The critics then claim that what they are embracing is “rule by law” at best, and is definitely not “rule of law.” However, these terms are often used in a confused and unclear manner. In this paper, I first clarify and distinguish among terms of legal philosophy such as “rule by man,” “rule by law,” “positive law” (or “legal positivism”), “rule of law,” and “natural law.” Those who are critical of Legalists such as Han Fei Zi often take a very “thick” reading of the rule of law, making it the rule of the good law or a form of natural law. With this (mis-)reading, they then reject the idea that Han Fei Zi’s theory of law is in line with the rule of law. I will then show that despite the distinctions, there is a continuous spectrum from rule by man to natural law. In particular, when the law in legal positivism acquires certain features, rule by law can be transformed into the rule of law. Indeed, legal theorists from different schools may agree on a similar set of features of law, and based on these features, we can show that Han Fei Zi’s understanding of the law is firmly in the camp of the rule of law. But his theory has some subtle differences from Western legal theories, and the study of it may then contribute to the enrichment of our understanding of law and politics.

主办

中山大学哲学系（珠海）

主题

自然法与人为法之间： 韩非子的法治思想（线上）

主讲

白彤东 （Tongdong BAI）

复旦大学哲学学院 教授

主持

Jun-Hyeok KWAK （郭峻赫）

中山大学哲学系（珠海）教授

时间

2024年5月24日15:00-17:00

地点

腾讯会议： 759-135-416

摘要

法家经常被描述为专制君主之人治的鼓吹者。 但明显法家讲“法”。 对此，法家的批评者认为，法家讲的最多是法制（rule by law），而非法治（rule of law）。 但是，这些术语的使用经常是混乱的。 因此，我会首先澄清和分殊几种相关的法哲学术语： 人治、法制、法律实证主义（人为法）、法治与自然法。 那些认为法家并非支持法治的批评者，其实常常采取了对法治的一种“厚”的理解，将其理解为善法之治或是某种自然法意义上的法治。 在这些澄清的基础上，我会进而展示，虽然有这些区别，但从人治到自然法其实是一个连续的光谱。 特别是当人为法获得了一些特性之后，法制可以转变为薄的法治。 实际上，对法的本质持不同立场的学者其实接受同一套非常类似的法的根本特征。 基于这种共识，我们可以展示，韩非子对法的理解与法治是符合的。 但是他的法治理论与西方法学理论有一些微妙的差别，而对这些差异的研究可以丰富我们对法律与政治的理解。