民主与民本辨析——兼与“新民本论者”商榷

民本与民主是两个不同的范畴，有着不尽相同的价值取向。民本是从中国传统文化中提炼出来的一个范畴，它所对应的是自先秦以来中国传统文化中的“重民”、“保民”等思想资料。而民主则是从西方社会移植过来的一个范畴，是对议会制度、公民参与等制度和价值的理论概括。民主并不是中国“古已有之”的价值理论，也不是从民本思想中“自然演化”而来的，而是来自于中国人在近代以来向西方的学习和借鉴。民主理论可以涵括并实现民本主义中“为民”的政治理想，而民本主义则具有双面性，一方面它含有“民有、民享”的精神，具有通向民主主义的可能性；但另一方面，因为它缺少人民参政权要素，而是主张由圣君贤相治理国家，因此也可以成为专制政治的护身符，而不可能成为当代民主与宪政建设的理论基础。

The Legal Basis of Governing for the People: Discuss with People-foundation Theory Individuals

Containing the different Value Orientations, the people-based doctrine and democracy don＇t belong to the same category. The people-based doctrine is a category epurated from Chinese traditional culture, which is in accordance with the Chinese traditional thoughts of ＂valuing the people＂ and ＂protecting the people＂ from the Pre- Chin Period. Whereas democracy is another category transplanted from the Western society and a summary of the parliamentary system and citizen participation institution, etc. Democratic Theory can include and realize ＂servingthe people＂ political ideal in the people-based doctrine. However, the people-based doctrine has double significance. On the one hand, it contains the spirits of ＂civilian-owned＂ and ＂civilian-controlled＂, and possesses the possibility of leading to democracy. On the other hand, due to lacking of the element of people＇ s political rights, it claims that the country should be governed by the philosophic monarch and prime minister. Therefore, the peoplebased doctrine may become the dictatorial politics＇ amulet. We should absorb the ruling wisdom from Chinese traditional culture, instead of using the people-based doctrine as the legal basis of the political construction.