Page 62 - 《社会》2025年第3期

文明视野下的现代政治危机：密尔论文明与新政治科学

pillars of wealth， reason， and the capacity for cooperation. In the realm of
historical philosophy， civilization progresses through the development of the division
of labor， aiming at ultimate well鄄being. On the road to perfection， civilization can
overcome and transcend the flaws of a given stage and arrives at a higher stage，
undergoing a historical process of continuous evolution. Social forms and power
structures also transform with the advancement of civilization. In the 19th century，
the rise of the power of the masses led to a shift toward equality in social structures.
At this time， society was in what Mill termed a “transitional state”， characterized
by a potential crisis of “the régime of public opinion”. The progress of civilization
brought forth a new spirit of time， and a new world required a new science of
politics. In the intellectual map presented in Civilization， Mill’s theory of
civilization ultimately serves as a guide to the craft of politics. By interpreting
“civilization” as a societal progress based on human nature and by portraying
European history since antiquity as a history of civilizational evolution， Mill interprets
civilization as a foundation akin to natual law for political order. Mill’s civilization
thought exhibits an introspective and self鄄critical quality， demonstrating a profound
historical consciousness and practical concern. Mill’s “new science of politics”
also embodies two layers： first， it represents Mill’s analysis of the latent worries of
modern civilization and his political solutions; second， it signifies a new way of
contemplating political affairs and social changes based on the process of civilization.
Keywords：civilization，John Stuart Mill，social changes，new science of politcs

在经典社会学的理论视野中，文明既是研究方法，也是研究对象。
作为研究方法，文明致力于理解秩序演化的历史进程，追索现代社会前
后的历史逻辑，以期洞见人类未来的命运（渠敬东，2021：57）。 作为研究
对象，文明是“超社会的物质和精神流动/交换的实体”或“超国族的‘道
德环境’”（王铭铭，2021：263）。 1 当然，文明是一个十分复杂的概念，它
1. 在《作为文明研究的社会学》一文中，渠敬 东（2021：57）归纳了“文明”概念的两种面
目：“‘文明’这一概念，可以说是以两种面目呈现在现代社会的实质领域。一是向着一个
普遍的历史目的迈进的文明化进程中，一切都循着进 步的统一步伐，根除过去、通向未
来，由此，是否就会为人类展开同样的命运或是共同形成一种全新的未来社会？ 二是那
些曾经创造过自身的传统，并在特定区域将其普遍化的文明及社会形态，如何遭遇这种
所谓‘世界历史’的挑战，如何激发和重塑自身应对共存世界的方式：冲突还是适应？ 转
化还是兼容？ ”文明的这两种面目也大体包含了作为研究方法与研究对象之文 （转下页）

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