哲學史-philosophy of history(英文版)

第12部分 (第2/7頁)

　to　the　remark　that　Monarchy　itself　must　be

further　divided　into　Despotism　and　Monarchy　proper；　that　in　all　the　divisions　to　which　the　leading

Idea　gives　rise；　only　the　generic　character　is　to　be　made　prominent；　…　it　being　not　intended　thereby

that　the　particular　category　under　review　should　be　exhausted　as　a　Form；　Order；　or　Kind　in　its

concrete　development。　But　especially　it　must　be　observed；　that　the　above…mentioned　divisions

admit　of　a　multitude　of　particular　modifications；　…　not　only　such　as　lie　within　the　limits　of　those

classes　themselves；　…　but　also　such　as　are　mixtures　of　several　of　these　essentially　distinct　classes；

and　isshapen；　unstable；　and　inconsistent　forms。　In　such　a　collision；　the

concerning　question　is；　what　is　the　best　constitution；　that　is；　by　what　arrangement；　organisation　or

mechanism　of　the　power　of　the　State　its　object　can　be　most　surely　attained。　This　object　may

indeed　be　variously　understood；　for　instance；　as　the　calm　enjoyment　of　life　on　the　part　of　the

citizens；　or　as　Universal　Happiness。　Such　aims　have　suggested　the　so…called　Ideals　of　Constitution；

and；　…　as　a　particular　branch　of　the　subject；　…　Ideals　of　the　Education　of　Princes　（Fenelon）；　or　of

the　governing　body　…　the　aristocracy　at　large　（Plato）；　for　the　chief　point　they　treat　of　is　the

condition　of　those　subjects　who　stand　at　the　head　of　affairs；　and　in　these　ideals　the　concrete　details

of　political　organisation　are　not　at　all　considered。　The　inquiry　into　the　best　constitution　is　frequently

treated　as　if　not　only　the　theory　were　an　affair　of　subjective　independent　conviction；　but　as　if　the

introduction　of　a　constitution　recognised　as　the　best；　…　or　as　superior　to　other