中国古代刑罚制度的人性分析

刑罚制度之设立既有防恶于前又有惩恶于后的法律功能,而中国古代刑罚制度在其设立、实施过程中,人性的痕迹非常深刻,无论从刑罚实施的受体还是立法者的主观导向,都把对人性的打压和保护作为一种平衡手段。从古代刑罚制度的发展变化可以清楚地发现,刑罚对人性的考量是中国古代法律伦理法倾向的集中体现。中国古代刑罚制度的文明进步幅度与对人性认识的高低有着较强的关联:先秦时期以摧残人性为刑罚惩戒的基础;在封建法制的发展变化过程中,人性力量之张扬是酷刑主义向轻刑主义转变的重要因子;而其中过于重视人性保护,又使得封建刑罚制度偏离法律建设轨道,在伦理法的道路上而不能自拔。

Human analysis of the penal system of ancient China

The function of the establishment of the penal system is not only to prevent but also to punish criminals.However,in the process of the establishment and implement of the penal system of ancient China,there exists a deep trace of humanity.The implementation of the receptor from the penalty as well as the legislator's subjective orientation,both regard the suppression and the protection of human nature as a means of balance.We can see clearly from the development and changes in the penal system that the consideration of human nature embodies the tendency of the Ancient China Legal Ethics Act.There exists close relationship between the degrees of the civilized progress of the penal system of ancient China and of the recognition of human nature:during the pre-Qin period,the penal system based the penalty on destroying human nature;during the process of development and changes of the feudal rule of law,the growing power of human nature contributes to the conversion from the cruel torture to the light imprisonment;however,the penal system of the feudal rule of law put too much emphasis on the protection of human nature,leading it to deviate from the construction of law and making it unable to shake itself off the road of the ethics laws.