追求公共善：当代西方对公民责任的研究

公民责任是指公民履行与其公民身份相适应的、符合社会公共善的义务以及对行为后果的承担。当代西方公民责任研究的兴起有历史和现实两方面的原因。历史地看,西方公民理论家无论主张积极的还是消极的公民资格都承认良好的公民素质对于民主制度的建立、稳定和发展是必不可少的,因此都对公民责任持肯定态度。现实原因则既是政治话语自然递进的结果、是民主实践发展的需要也是对过度强调的权利的修正。当代西方对公民责任的研究主要从四方面展开:其一,公民责任是公民维护民主政治的义务;其二,公民责任被视为公民美德的体现;其三,公民的核心责任是政治参与;培养公民责任具有多种途径等等。

Pursing Public Goods: Studies on Civic Responsibility of the Contemporary Western World

Civic responsibility refers to a citizen's responsibility for his behaviors compatible with both social ethics and his status and the relevant consequences.Studies on civic responsibility in the contemporary West arise for both historical and realistic reasons: Western theorists who admit the importance of developing citizens' quality in the establishment,stability as well as development of democratic system hold positive attitude toward civic responsibility which is a progressive political discourse,demand of democratic practice development and amendments to overstressed power and authority.Studies on civic responsibility in the West involve four dimensions: Civic responsibility is citizen's obligation to safeguard democracy;Civic responsibility reflects citizen's virtue;Political participation is the key to civic responsibility;Civic responsibility may be developed through different channels.