试析富勒新自然法学的方法论特征

富勒的新自然法学(The revival of natural law theory)继承了以往自然法学(Classical natural law theory)的传统,追求法律的道德价值,强调法律与道德密不可分。但是,在研究重点和以往自然法学有着很大的不同。 以往自然法学研究的重点是一种独立于国家制定法之上的外在道德价值目标,即法的目的的道德性,追求实体正义(external morality of law)。富勒的新自然法学的研究重点则是国家制定法本身所具有的内在道德价值目标,即手段的道德性,追求程序正义(inner morality of law),并明确提出符合程序正义的八项具体法律原则或标准。 研究重点不同,其方法也就不同。富勒的研究方法具有两个显著特征:一个是把法律作为一个过程来研究,强调手段与目的的整体性和过程的内在健全性;另一个是在坚持追求法律道德根本目的的基础上,进一步提出达到法律目的的具体标准,将抽象的价值观变成非常具体和具有高度实践性的事业,强调应该与实际的结合,以及具体与抽象的统一。

Analyzing the Features of the Method by Fuller for the Revival of Natural Law Theory

The revival of the natural law theory held by Fuller has continued the tradition of the classical natural law theory, adhered to the moral value of laws, and emphasized that morality cannot be separated from laws. However, its research focus differs greatly from the classical natural law theory. The latter aims at the target of the moral value, independent from the laws laid down by the state government, i. e. the morality of the objectives of the law is to seek the external morality of law. However, the research focus of Fullers revival of natural law theory is on the target of the moral value embodied in the law laid down by the state, that is, the means of the morality is to seek the inner morality of the law. He put forward clearly eight detailed legal principles or standards for it. With different research focus, the approaches to it are not the same. There are two distinctive features of Fuller's research method: (i) law is taken as a process for research, emphasizing the completeness of means, purpose and the inner wholeness of the process; and (ii) based on the essential objective to adhere to legal morality, the detailed standards to achieve the legal process are put forward, which turns the abstract concept of value into concrete and highly practical work with emphasis on its combination with practice and on the integrity of concrete views with abstract ones.