立宪主义声音的一种侧听——对民主主义的历史省思

民主主义的演变史夹杂着立宪主义的批评声,批评的焦点指向民主主义的极端化倾向———将人民主权绝对化和神圣化的观念。民主主义两个流脉中贯穿着与立宪主义的对立和妥协,其根源在于洛克和卢梭两个思想原点蕴含着不同的价值选择;立宪主义力图克服民主主义的内在缺陷,对其进行价值补正和观念破解。历史给我们的警示和启示是民主主义必须融合立宪主义价值;民主主义的人权和自由之理想唯在立宪主义的牵制和平衡下方能实现。

An Examination of Democracy''''s History: A Constitutionalist Perspective

The history of the evolution of democracy is full of criticism by constitutionalists,which mainly centers on the extremity of democracy: its absolutizity and sacrosanctity of people's sovereignty.In both the two streams of democracy originated from Locke and Rousseau's doctrine separately we can see democracy's opposition as well as compromise with constitutionalism.The reason lies in that the core values of Rousseau and Locke's original ideas vary.Constitutionalism endeavors to cure the internal defects of democracy,enhance its value and grasp its concept.Democracy must incorporate the value of constitutionalism and only with the constraint and balance of constitutionalism can democracy actualize its ideal of human rights and liberty,which this author regards as a warning and an enlightenment that is afforded by history.