论公共利益及其本质属性

学术界关于公共利益是否存在的分歧,其关键在于对公共利益界定的方式不同。从亚里士多德到卢梭再到当代的社会科学家,从他们的理论中都可以找到有关公共利益理念的影子。对公共利益的理解,经历了一个从抽象的道德原则向具体个体的共同福利转变的过程。公共利益与共同利益是两个容易混淆的概念,弄清它们之间的联系有助于理解公共利益的本质。公共利益的本质属性不仅仅体现在其抽象的客观性和社会共享性方面,而且还要具体体现在具有物质形态的公共产品的非排它性上。不论从管理者的立场看还是从公众的立场看,公共利益都是公共管理的核心。

On Public Interest and its Intrinsic Attribute

Whether the issue on public interest is in discussion, the key of divergence lies in different ways of defining public interest. From Aristotle to Rousseau till modern socialists, the trace of public interest can be seen in their theories, going through transformation from abstract moral principle to concretely individual common interest. The two concepts of "Public Interest" and "Common Interest" can be easily confused. Therefore, if the relationship between them can be clearly understood, it will be useful for understanding the essence of public interest. The essence of public interest not only is embodied in its abstract objectivity, but also needs concretely embodying in no-exclusiveness of public products with substance modality. No matter from the position of managers or from the position of the public, public interest is the core of pubic management.