從同情共感到效益：論《人性論》與《道德原理探索》的異與同

Sympathy and Utility: A Comparison between A Treatise of Human Nature and An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals

陳建綱(Brian Chien-Kang Chen)

《政治與社會哲學評論》 38期 (2011/09) Pp. 1-56

https://doi.org/10.6523/168451532011090038001

摘要

《人性論》與《道德原理探索》之間存在微妙的轉變，認真看待這些轉變有助於我們理解休謨的道德哲學。本文以同情共感與效益為線索，仔細比較了休謨於前述兩書中對於德行的觀察與闡釋，進以指出兩書之間的差異並非來自於休謨在輿論的壓力下被迫修改其理論，而是由於其立論觀點發生了變化，即從著重於探索德行的根源過渡為彰顯德行的效用。然而，在差異之外，休謨的基本立場在兩部著作之間並無實質的改變，他始終以人性的解剖學家自居而致力於建立一個描述性的理論。

關鍵字

休謨 ； 描述性 ； 同情共感 ； 效益

並列摘要

While there are some delicate differences between Hume's Treatise of Human Nature and his Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals, to take these differences seriously is essential to an adequate understanding of Hume's moral thought. This essay examines Hume's ideas of justice and benevolence elaborated in those works. My main contention is that the differences between the two works are caused not by Hume's revision of his theory under the pressure of public opinion, but by the change of the perspective from which he observes virtues, namely his focus has been transferred from the different origins of virtues to the utility they bring about. In spite of the differences, however, the nature of Hume's theory remains the same. Hume is faithful to his position as an anatomist of human nature, and his aim is to provide a descriptive rather than prescriptive theory.

並列關鍵字

David Hume ； Descriptive ； Sympathy ； Utility

參考文獻

David Hume 1932 The Letters of David Hume, 2 Vols, ed. by John Y. T. Greig. Oxford: Clarendon Press

David Hume 1938 An Abstract of a Treatise of Human Nature, 1740: A Pamphlet hitherto unknown by David Hume, reprinted with an introduction by John M. Keynes and Piero Sraffa. Cambridge:Cambridge University Press.

Hume, David(1975).Enquiries Concerning Human Understanding and Concerning the Principles Morals (3rd ed.).Oxford:Clarendon Press.

Hume, David,Miller, Eugene F.(ed.)(1987).Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary.Indianapolis:LibertyClassics.

Hume, David,Beauchamp, Tom L.(ed.)(1998).An Enquiry concerning the Principles of Morals.Oxford:Oxford University Press.