【政治社論】"The Conservative Mind" 簡化版本 - 第一章 24/08/03

 

Kirk指出了以下這六點是真正的保守派

 

【1：相信有超越一切的自然法則存在】

Belief in a transcendent order or body of natural law that rules society as well as conscience. There is objective truth in the universe, and we can know it. Further, it is the great object of politics to apprehend and apply true Justice to a “community of souls.”

相信有一個超越一切的秩序或超越一切的自然法則存在，這不僅支配著社會，也支配著人的良知。在宇宙中有客觀真理，而我們可以認識到它。此外，政治的偉大目標就是理解並將真正的正義應用於“靈魂的共同體”。

【2：追求人類的多樣性和神秘性】

Affection for the variety and mystery of human existence, as opposed to the narrow uniformity and egalitarianism of “radical” systems. Conservatives are convinced that life is worth living, as Kirk was fond of saying, and, unlike liberals, do not seek to force sameness upon humanity.

對人類存在的多樣性和神秘性懷有熱愛，而非追求“激進”體系中狹隘的單一性和平等主義。正如柯克常說，保守派堅信生活值得過，而與此相反的是，自由派則試圖強迫人類走向同質化。  

【3：堅信文明社會需要法律和中產階級】

Conviction that civilized society needs the rule of law and the middle class, in contrast to the notion of a “classless society.” Conservatives believe there are natural distinctions among men, leading to inequalities of condition. Conservatives affirm equality before God and the courts; anything more leads to “servitude and boredom.”

堅信文明社會需要法治和中產階級，這與“無階級社會”的觀念形成對比。保守派認為人與人之間存在著自然的差異，這導致了社會地位的不平等。他們強調在上帝和法律面前的平等；若追求更多的平等，則會導致“奴役與無聊”。 

 

【4：自由與財產息息相關】

 
Freedom and property are linked: without private property, the state is unstoppable. Redistribution of wealth, by taxes or othermeans, is not economic progress. Men need property to secure their rights, discharge their duties, and limit government.

自由與財產息息相關：沒有私有財產，國家將不可阻擋。通過稅收或其他方式重新分配財富並不是經濟進步。人們需要財產來保障自己的權利、履行自己的責任，並限制政府的權力。

 

【5：相信律法（此處用prescription一字，包括上帝、傳統價值、法律及制度），不信任那些企圖解構社會的人】

Faith in prescription and distrust of those calculating men who would reconstruct all of society according to their own abstract designs. A conservative believes things are the way they are for a good reason: past generations have passed on customs and conventions that stood the test of time. Customs serve as a check on anarchy and the lust for power.

相信傳統的力量，不信任那些企圖按照自身抽象設計來重建整個社會的人。保守派認為事物之所以如此是有其良好的理由的：歷代以來，先輩傳承下來的風俗和習俗經受住了時間的考驗。這些習俗作為制約無政府狀態和權力慾望的防線。 

 

【6：認為匆忙的變革可能帶來破壞】

 
Recognition that change may not be a good thing. Hasty innovation can destroy as well as improve, so conservatives are prudent with their changes and approach reform with caution rather than zeal.

認識到變革未必總是好事。匆忙的創新既可能帶來破壞，也可能帶來改善，因此保守派在變革中保持謹慎，以審慎而非熱情的態度來進行改革。 

Kirk也定義了自由論者

 
(1) 相信人類的完美性，(2) 蔑視傳統，追求政治平等和經濟平等，(3) 可能還抱有關於國家起源的世俗觀點。

這些觀點足以識別我們周圍的激進分子。柯克對他們的批判十分嚴厲：他認為這些人迷戀變革。

(1) The belief in man’s perfectibility, (2)contempt for tradition, political leveling, and economic leveling, (3) with a secular view of the state’s origins perhaps thrown in,serve as well as can be expected to identify the radicals in our midst. Kirk slaps them with what is for him a searing indictment: they are in love with change.