论西方的法治主义思想——法治与市场经济制度的关系

论题旨在诠释法治的涵义,说明法治国家乃是市场经济这一社会制度的基本前提。在公法上,法治之法先于国家,高于国家,它是关于限制国家(尤其是政府)权力、保障个人自由的至高无上者。实现法治,旨在从外部提供私法社会——市场经济社会所必须的制度框架。从近代市场经济制度的基本理念看,在法律主治下,国家的权力(公权)被严格限定,社会及经济活动皆属私人领域(私权),不必也不容国家染指。由此,给个人带来空前广袤的自由空间,因而形成市场社会。

A Western Perspective on the Relationship between the Rule of Law and the Institution of Market Economy

This paper ventures to interpret the meaning of the rule of law,and illustrate that rule by law is the basic premise of a social institution that practices market economy.In the public law,the rule of law precedes and surpasses the state.It helps to restrict state(esp.government) power and safeguard individual freedom.The rule of law aims to provide the institutional frame of a society that protects rights.This is necessary to implement market economy.From the perspective of neoteric market economy institution,state power(public right) is rigidly limited when ruled mainly by law,and the social and the economic activities are regarded as private domains(private right),which excludes state intervention.This provides unprecedented free space for individual that facilitates development of a society that practices market economy.