韦伯理论的局限及其在中国的误用

韦伯“一般过渡理论”和“三个理想权威模型”的概念范畴,不具备对中国社会和政治权威作合理解释的效力。其“理性”是狭义的,其“法制统治理想类型”的模式化缺乏严格定义。中国政治不是西方那个攫取权力的角逐概念,是料理社会、人世事物。一个治理者的政治,取决于个人是什么样的人和实行什么样的政策。中国的法,多是处理政事的具体办法或指导性规则的概念。实在经验中不存在这样的“理想类型”能表述的事情;关键不是理性不理性,也不是“魅力”还是“理性法制”,问题在社会占统治地位的人,把攫取利润作为人生的最终目的;是这个目的将现代资本主义社会与其他社会区别开来。

The theory of Max Weber: limitation and misuse in China

Weber’s “general transition theory” and the “three ideal models of authority” do not have the efficacy of reasonably explaining the present Chinese society and its political authority. In the models, “rationality” has a rather narrow sense, while the modelization of the so called “rationality-legality ideal” is to be strictly defined. In China, politics does not mean vying for power as the Westerners understand it, but is understood as the governance of things and society. The governance from a governor depends on what kind of person he is and what kind of policies he implements. In China, the law often means concrete ways or some instructive rules for managing public matters. In real experience we do not have such things as can be stated in some “ideal models.” The key point is not be rational or not, nor is it a matter of “charisma” or “rationality-legality.” The issue at the core is whether or not the persons who dominate the society seek profit as the ultimate goal of life. It is this goal that sets the modern capitalist society apart from other societies.