邊沁論權利－他的批判與證成

本文聚焦於權利概念於近代之沿革最重要的文件之一，即頒布於法國大革命期間的《人權與公民權宣言》，並探討效益主義之父傑若米．邊沁（Jeremy Bentham）對此文件的檢閱與批判。邊沁的論述涵蓋以下三項：首先，《人權與公民權宣言》提倡的價值如自由與平等過於抽象，背離了人類真實的社會境況。其次，《人權與公民權宣言》倡導自然權利，但對於行使權利的界限缺乏妥善的界說與釐清，容易使個人間因權利相互衝突而僵持不下。第三，當自然權利成為主要的公共語彙，社會將陷於無止盡的騷動之中。邊沁身後的人類政治情勢之發展，似乎逐一印證了他的觀點。故而，通過探討邊沁的觀點，本文旨在為現代人的道德困境思索可能的處方。

關鍵字

邊沁；效益主義；權利；社會關係；社會羈絆

並列摘要

This essay focuses on one of the most important documents in the modern development of the idea of right, i.e. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen composed during the French Revolution. The purpose is to explore Jeremy Bentham's, who is the founding father of utilitarianism, examination and criticisms of this document. Bentham's arguments are threefold. First, The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen proposes an abstract understanding of values such as liberty and equality, so that it deviates from the real condition of men's social life. Secondly, The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen preaches natural rights, whereas it fails to define the proper boundaries of rights. The consequence is the predicament caused by the conflicts of rights among individuals. Thirdly, society tends to fall into endless chaos and disorder, once natural rights become the main public discourse. By discussing Bentham's views, this essay aims at finding a possible solution for the moral predicament of the moderns.