[where the said] political freedom, personal freedom and social autonomy, we desire. "Freedom is the main objective of development, and is the main means of development." It is the true saying. Any field, no freedom, no vitality, no development! Some people say, more freedom, will destroy the order, the nationalist discourse is an outdated tradition. Upholding the rule of law, freedom and order will coexist! Our reality is the legal system is authoritarian trampling, so it is not a legal order, freedom is all gone. Interaction between political freedom and personal liberty and promote each other, will create a good society, to maximize the mobilization of everyone's enthusiasm. Individual lonely and weak, Hayek said in "the road to Serfdom": private ownership is the most important guarantee of freedom, this not only to the propertied people, but also for the same. Just because the production data in the hands of many independent actions of the hands, the government did not control our rights, we can take the identity of the individual to decide what to do. But "system only guarantees of individual independence is not enough, good system is committed to the promotion of civic virtue, enhance political combination. Political freedom is not just a means to safeguard individual freedom, is a way of self promotion of human nature. Two kinds of free combination is not a simple coexist, but interdependent and mutual coordination, from individual to civic virtues promotion." -- Reading Yang Limin in sense, and reprint.

Introduction: why is "freedom"

In human history, constitutional politics is the product. The meanings of "constitution" of the word, it means a kind of unique political arrangements, the civil liberties protection as one of the basic goal of political society or the basic goal, and this organization and limited government. The meaning of the constitution is also known as the "security" constitution ", it was born in the beginning of the modern history of the world. The idea of guiding two well-documented political literature on behind the existence in the sense of the Constitution made the classical formulation. One of them said: We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, including the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among them, people, and the government's legitimate rights and interests, is the consent of the governed.

Another said: on the aspect of the rights, men are born and remain free and equal. Only when the public using the above social distinctions may be founded. The purpose of any political association is the preservation of the natural and unshakable right. These rights are liberty, property, security and resistance to oppression.

From then on, man as the moral main body should be the guarantee of civil society and respect the ideas have become the cornerstone of the constitution it is self-evident, it is not only provides a high-level specification of legitimacy for political society, the fundamental standard is binding on the political society. America revolution and the French Revolution was that marks the beginning of a new era, in this era, every aspect of human life has undergone profound changes are mutually connected, the formation of a new paradigm of a whole different from the past, and formed a new -- modern characteristic of a human life. Born as a "symbol of the modern" the beginning of the events of the most direct and political important result is the doctrine of the constitution, which brings a great problem to us: the doctrine of constitution and being in the form of "the modern world" and its characteristics and what relationship? If you don't put the premise to guarantee the constitution includes concept as it is self-evident, it is particularly important to the problem for the developing of constitutional state.

Fundamental freedoms stipulated in the modern constitution is usually divided into two main types: one is called defensive or negative freedom, a class called the participation right or freedom. This classification generally correspond to Isaiah Berlin famous type of two freedom rights construction, and for the first time on free right to make a systematic distinction theory is traced back to the period of the great revolution in the French thinker Constant, Berlin by the famous speech "Constant inspired more" freedom freedom and modern people of the ancient people the, he described two kinds of freedom into two compared in concept form on the right type.

However, despite Berlin's huge influence which works, works of significance lies not only in theory is the precursor of Berlin, lies not in it for the first time on two kinds of freedom to make the distinction between systematic theory of ideological history status, in fact, Benjamin works have great difference with Berlin, it is two kinds of freedom the distinction is not to construct a purely theoretical, but based on the description of a place, at that time the social fact and the fact that the social condition description, which makes his works with the Berlin works do not have meaning. In which, in the revolution, has become an irresistible trend of history is a kind of "modern freedom", the freedom and the "ancient liberty" is totally different, it is a product of modern society itself, and the development of human life is to adapt to the characteristics of modern after freedom; modern the society also needs two kinds of freedom, from political power intervention "modern freedom" and into the rights of political participation of the "ancient liberty". In this sense, the famous speech in 1819 read Benjamin published in the Paris Royal School will not only help us to deepen the understanding of two kinds of freedom, is to provide a priori value theory in discourse understanding path protection doctrine of the constitution, a worthy, deeper based on security the Constitution and the relevance of the path between the actual situation of modern society.

Constant is the French Revolution's contemporaries, he was born in 1767 in Lausanne, Switzerland, arrived in Paris after the revolution, became a French citizen, life experience from the French Revolution to a series of historical events, Napoleon proclaimed himself Emperor, Bourbon Restoration and destruction. Like many thinkers of that era, which is not a today specialization system specialized "intellectuals", is a more active public life and political career in politics. From the early years of the Napoleon presidency he began in France's political career, he worked as a political opposition to Emperor Napoleon was expelled from the school, also for the hundred days of government in drafting the constitution amendment, after the Bourbon Restoration, he to Parliament as leader of the opposition in French politics played an important role, and make great efforts for the July revolution. In 1830, he died in November, France held a state funeral for him.

As a political career directly and eager to join the political theory, constant attention and writing is not "philosophy", but always focus on the revolution in France after the political and social status, damage from the revolution brought about by the political thinking in the existing problems, and the revolution experience into political reconstruction after the French revolution. When he was young he had visited Edinburgh, has the opportunity to observe the UK as "advanced political society" the political system and the practice operation, was influenced by the Scotland School of enlightenment in there, both of which later formed his reflections on the revolution in France and the French Constitutional important reference and intellectual origins.

Through the contrast between a main clue which life thinking is the ancient and modern. Since the beginning of the Renaissance, Europe has perceived itself in an entirely different and classical society, and gradually formed a clear self-consciousness of the times and social characteristics of the. According to the ancient world's own conditions to understand the ancient culture, and with a kind of "new" social and cultural conditions of consciousness to judge the ancient, look at the differences between "today" and ancient, became an intellectual fashion. This trend to develop in Scotland School of enlightenment, also affected during the French revolution. The influence of the Scotland school as a deeply revolution political figures, which clearly aware of France and Europe has been in a new age is totally different from the ancient, the destructive consequences of the French revolution needs to understand at least in part, from the new characteristics of the times for this, which is dedicated to the ancient world and the modern world social conditions and in the political structure of the consequences and the performance are compared, to illustrate the revolution mistake lies in the modern world political structure of the ancient world shifted to social conditions has been completely changed, resulting in disastrous consequences. The political structure of modern world needs its own social conditions, this is the personal freedom and representative. The thinking of condensed in "comparative" freedom freedom and modern people of the ancient people of this famous speech.

Comparison of ancient and modern freedom, freedom

Comparison of "freedom" which consists of 74 sections, can be roughly divided into five parts: the first part of section 1-13, the form and connotation of ancient and modern freedom freedom were compared; the second part is section 14-34, elaborate the source of ancient and modern freedom between free; the third part is chapter 35-42, on the anachronistic mistake diagnosis; the fourth part is chapter 43-55, showing a single ancient system into the modern will also have a repressive effect; the fifth part is the chapter 56-74, discuss two kinds of liberty in modern relationship.

The three section is the speech by theme and core content of the speech. The first sentence and come to the point, as the topic of the speech is to draw attention to a previously have not paid enough attention to the important issues, namely two types freely between different. Under the same "freedom" of the word, there exist two different types of freedom, an ancient nation is free, the other is the modern national freedom. Comparison and show that the two types of freedom is of urgent significance in two aspects for the French political at that time: first, understanding between these two types of free confusion need to be responsible for the devastating consequences of the French Revolution; second, the Qing Dynasty on the ancient regime is not recognized, but modern polity to adapt to the modern freedom.

The three words that concern, purpose and freedom is the contrast of pathological diagnosis of revolution, the reason lies in the revolution get the opposite of what one wants the trendsetting historical characters lack for "modern" sense of the times, fail to have a clear understanding of "modern" characteristics and requirements, so as to make the anachronistic mistake. On the one hand, the revolution still have ancient free fantasy, hope to recreate the ancient freedom in French, which caused the disastrous consequences; on the other hand, the revolution to establish representative is a modern form of government, and adapt to modern liberal regime.

The next three sections briefly analyzed three regime at the time of the political discussion is often cited: Sparta, Gaul and Rome, points out that in the first two state political power is a holistic, infinite, and runs counter to the representative polity, while Rome is only representative of the faint trace, precursor these regime does not exist representative. Then points out that, the representative is not an ancient system, its security is the modern freedom.

In this connection, on two kinds of free speech to the contrast between. Firstly, the modern people understand the connotation of "freedom", the modern people here refers to "the British, French, USA citizen": on every one of them, freedom is only restricted by law, but not for someone or some personal arbitrary will have some kind of arrest, detention, executed or abuse of rights, it is everyone to express their views, select and engage in a occupation, abuse of dominance and property rights, without permission, do not have to explain the motive or reason and migrating right. It is each person with other people the right of association, association of the objective may be to discuss their interests, perhaps in their preferred and the association of religion, or perhaps only in a most suitable to their nature or fancy way to spend a few days or a few hours. Finally, it is everybody through the election of all or part of officials, or by the authorities have to pay attention to more or less representative, appeal, requirements, to exert some influence on the government's administrative rights.

These freedoms is divided into two parts, most of the previous listing is known as the freedom right of Constitution: personal freedom, freedom of expression, freedom, freedom of property, freedom of movement, freedom of association, freedom of religion. These free is a personal choice and arrangement of their right to live, is formed and maintained a unique, not subject to external control and intervention of "personal space" associated with a person. The last mentioned political participation rights, namely the election and supervision of the government's rights. If these freedoms are in modern as its "freedom", then, what is the ancient people's freedom?

Ancient freedom lies in some part of the complete sovereignty directly exercise in a collective way: such as square negotiation issues of war and peace, to conclude an alliance with a foreign government, voting laws and to make the decision, finance, law and management review of executive, last Archon attended the assembly of the people, for they criticize, condemn or exemption.

It is not difficult to find, the ancient people here to give free, from the perspective of today, and will not be classified as the "right", but the exercise by the state agency's "power", in part by state agencies the highest level of exercise, for example, decided to war and peace, and foreign government signed the agreement, these powers are often referred to as the sovereign authority, "emblem of sovereignty". The exercise of ancient freedom which is equivalent to the members directly as a "sovereign authority" participation of sovereignty. At this point, substantial influence on public affairs of modern people with the election and supervision of government, can not be completely with the ancient people compared to.

However, the speech is quick to point out, interdependent and ancient people in public life in the collective freedom is on the other side, namely in the private life of community authority obedience. Modern people previously cited advantages in speech, property and religious aspects of independence in ancient times were not recognised, and even the most private family life is no exception, every aspects of private life are affected by national regulation, individual free will not exist in space.

Therefore, compared with the modern free ancient free conclusion is: "in the ancient times people there, in public activities almost always is a sovereign, but in all personal relationships are slaves", "in modern, person is independent in his private life, but even in the most free country he is only on the surface, is the sovereign". In other words, the ancient people's freedom in his can become important affairs of one sovereign group involved in the decision to community, have real influence and the right to speak, and once as a person, he is everything, including their own life and citizenship, were completely under the jurisdiction of the community. But modern people's freedom is in one of his stand on one's own personal life field, this space fully control, by his own country and exclude intervention of any other person, but as a member of "sovereign people", he to participate in the exercise of sovereignty is the name, to influence on important public affairs practice very little.

Comparison of two, ancient and modern social conditions: CityVs.Powers, warVs.Commercial

Why would such a difference in difference, what are the causes? This is the second part discusses the speech. First, the ancient city-state's living condition is: the first, small country, population co.. Second, because the small country and neighbors, each other in a natural hostility, national spirit militant. Third, as a result, these countries are mutually in the endless war in these countries, a way of living, "all countries had to go to war in exchange for their security, independence and survival itself. This is the ancient liberty national eternal interest or almost is the habit of attention". Fourth, due to frequent wars, massive slavery, mainly by slave labor to meet the daily needs.

And the basic situation of modern society: first, the national country with a vast territory, a large population. Second, among the peoples of Europe quite homogeneous. Third, modern powerful nation and civilization that they love peace. Fourth, as a result, there is an alternative to commercial war. Business to "calculation" instead of strength and impulse, by "mutual consent" way to get through the war, and the war had made cannot be achieved.

In contrast to these conditions, which emphasizes the modern national condition decided they are commercial nation. Ancient due to various conditions (such as navigation technology), business progress is hindered, the ancient commercial people is just a lucky accident, business itself also soaked in war and the hostile atmosphere. Today, business is a common phenomenon:

Today, it is the normal state, is the only goal, all the countries of the common trend and real life. These countries require stability, comfort, in order to provide a comfortable industry. The war has become more and more is no longer effective means to meet their desire. The dangers of war to provide personal benefits can no longer compete peace work and regular exchange produces results comparable to. The ancient people, a successful war both increasing private wealth, but also increase the public wealth, increase their share, Gong Fu slave land. But for modern people, even a successful war, its price is no doubt would exceed their value. Therefore, it can be asserted that, "a business instead of war time will come", today's era has in this era".

Fifth, the slavery does not exist, the freedom of people must be engaged in all the occupation, to meet all the needs of society.

Commercial alternative to war all these differences is the most decisive. For the ancient nation, objective life conditions they decided the war is the basic content of their lives, but also meet the needs of the main means of survival. The ancient national survival of wealth "slave, Gong Fu and land", they can only be achieved through the war. And this situation in the modern changes, because the maritime industry to promote commercial progress and the development of the industry, the war no longer meet the needs of the only way to wealth or the main way, through peaceful industrial production and commercial exchange, modern people can better meet the needs of life, more safely and wealth accumulation of their own desire. In this case, the war for modern people to become the burden of risk The loss outweighs the gain.

Benjamin Constant for and observe the ancient national "war as the main mode of existence and the means of acquiring wealth" does not just happen. In Aristotle's "political science" in one book, explicitly including war "generalized hunting style" city as the main "become rich technology", that was necessary to sustain life in the city of wealth means, and through the "transaction" obtain and accumulate wealth as "unnatural". But the land and slaves as two of the most ancient form of wealth, is a city community, only through the war to obtain and growth. In contrast, during the French Revolution era, has been the great geographical discovery and the industrial revolution, the great geographical discovery long-distance trade brings growth and incentives for industry, the main forms of social wealth has changed. Trade has brought in a peaceful way to expand the possibility of new wealth, while the industrial era created industrial products and industrial capital in the land has opened new, even more important forms of wealth (such as stock, patent), even for the country concerned, the war is no longer the main means to obtain wealth. Whether a country or individual, war is no longer desirable, modern countries have entered the commercial era.

This observation and judgment is influenced by the Scotland School of enlightenment. Scotland School of enlightenment in general tend to think, business development and growth is the sign of the new era, shaping business happened to human life is better than the past societies more desirable. This point is prominently reflected in the Scotland school for the forms of human society's four stages theory: the human society can be divided into social hunting, nomadic society, agricultural society and commercial society in four stages, the development of civilized society is a natural historical process of business growth, society is the growth process as vertex; individuals from entering adult children, human society will from barbarism to civilization, and the business community is the highest level of civilization and social development. Therefore, when Constant said, "a business instead of war era will come. We have entered the era ", potentially contains a value judgment, business instead of war is a manifestation of social progress, today is the age better than ancient symbol. This is a judgment of value itself is already very "modern": the ancient thinkers, the handicraft industry is regarded as "a lowly occupation", to exchange as a means to gain profits and wealth itself as the pursuit of goals is depreciated and scorn, free life in pursuit of "Virtue", including "happiness" as a goal a commercial society, it is not possible to be respected, as the representative of civilization and progress.

Changes in living conditions and the business instead of war brought significant changes in the following four aspects:

First, the importance of increasing the size of the state to individuals in the political participation of the sharp decrease of the.

Second, the abolition of slavery to eliminate the free people of leisure.

Third, the business is the continuity of the war brought to the people, there is no life can be engaged in political activities of the whole batch, modern people can only focus on their own personal life.

Fourth, the business so that they can be in no need to rely on the "authority" of the situation, according to its good to meet the needs of life, so as to stimulate the individual love.

As the change of these four aspects of the results, for modern people, the connotation of "freedom" must change. The ancient people's political participation is a realistic possibility and practical importance, "in ancient times, everyone to share sovereignty not like us is an abstract assumption today. Have a real impact of each individual will: the exercise of the will is a real, repeated fun". In modern times, the importance and possibility of individual in political participation have been significantly reduced, in the vast territory and large population conditions, isolated individual will hardly have any influence in politics, in contrast, commercial society for individual autonomy to pursue their own happiness opened doors, "the progress of civilization, age business trends, as well as between different nationalities communication is infinitely expand and enrich the pursuit of personal happiness means". Therefore, "the active and sustained participation in collective power" of the ancient liberty in modern is neither possible nor desirable, modern people have not may experience from the name of the Sovereign by participating in their value and fun, on the contrary, modern people from the private life control body to fun and happiness modern people must ", than the ancient people more cherish their personal independence", their freedom must be "composed of peaceful enjoyment and personal independence". "The ancient people of the target is in the middle of the common country citizens share the social power: This is what they called a free. But modern people's goal is to enjoy the protection of private happiness; they put on these private happiness system called freedom."

So far, which clearly gives the definition of "ancient liberty" and "modern freedom", in short, is the ancient freedom of sovereign power sharing, and modern freedom is the institutional guarantee of private happiness.

The twenty section of this part, the speech has been clearly illustrates the basic views "two free": the ancient people's freedom and the freedom of modern man is not the same thing, they are completely different two kinds of meanings of the free, and the two different free are decided by the ancient national and the modern nation of different living conditions and living conditions of the. In the ancient city of the Republic, the specific survival conditions decide the war is the basic content of city survival, war is therefore structure in the city of the whole social and political life, individual citizens and polis is an inseparable combination state. City of the Republic's survival mode determines the political body in Athens as rich commercial spirit and advocating individual freedom, could not escape common habits of the ancient world, existence of ostracism that person is still highly subordinated to politics with.

But with the change of the social conditions, business instead of war became the main form to meet basic needs for survival means and wealth, the basis between the individual and the political body tightly has ceased to exist, the importance of personal political combination of reduced, at the same time, there have been endowed with the combination of independent of the political. The war caused political association is the ancient people's way of life, which decides the ancient freedom reflected for political participation, as a sovereign group members share the sovereign power; while the business is the modern way of life, politics is limited, people in politics outside the independent existence of the basic social facts, such as personal living space is not subject to interference by legal protection

Three, the French Revolution anachronistic and ancient system can not be transplanted

After analyzing the ancient and modern freedom freedom differences, speech to the French Revolution pathological diagnosis. The destructive consequences caused by the French Revolution, are largely to blame for two times and the confusion between the two freedom. "In the us that delay for a long time and full of storm of revolution, many people with good will due to the failure to distinguish these differences caused by the infinite evil." Benjamin Constant are two in the period of the great revolution of the most influential philosophers, one is Rousseau, one is mably priest, the two writers "failed to recognize two thousand years caused the temperament changes", which made the anachronistic mistake.

Benjamin Rousseau called the "genius", he tried to "belong to another first Century social power and the collective sovereignty in modern times", therefore, although he was "pure love of freedom of the incentive, but provides a deadly excuse for many types of tyranny". But Rousseau went further, morally tougher, more need for revolution mistake responsibility is the successor to Rousseau Mably the priest, the priest "mistakenly social authority as a free", "he is the representative of such a system, the system according to the ancient by dogma, civil and obedience to the state sovereignty, requires the individual to national freedom and slavery", he condemned the independence, an individual freedom, extolling every suppressed individual freedom method, either to law deeply personal life, were the most control over personal.

The differences between ancient and modern to have a clear understanding, especially, for today's have irreversibly into the modern one to have a clear understanding, this is not easy. On the latter point, even the master Montesquieu also failed to succeed. Montesquieu to recognize the differences between ancient and modern, but failed to reveal the causes of these differences really, he put these differences to the Republic and monarchy created social status, failed to recognize these differences is fundamentally lies in the different social conditions and the spirit of the times, ancient and modern and thus, he also failed to recognize that today's already in ancient different "modern".

In modern times has been in the "modern", this is not a easy social fact, modern social system construction must take this as the starting point. As for the pursuit of happiness, "happy" meaning has been because of different times have changed, the meaning of freedom has also undergone a change, today the French pursuit and defend freedom is not the ancient freedom, but stand on one's own pursuit of personal happiness of freedom, individual freedom is the guarantee of well-being. The storm was pushed to the forefront of the times the revolutionaries just failed to recognize this point, they were attracted by the magnificent bearing of an ancient people, inspired by the philosophical doctrine of abstract, they have to be above the law of power, and hope will be extended to all aspects of social life; they tried to combine French reconstruction of personal and political infinite close, make all social affairs are subject to political decisions, and believe that all individuals are in the private rights restrictions can obtain compensation from the sovereign power to share in the. However, political experiment and separated from the reality of the situation is not likely to succeed in the era of:

Gentlemen, we all know, what is the result of this. Various free system based on the spirit of the times and build understanding can survive, but the ancient people restored the building collapsed, allow all doubt fact is, social power with all its damage possible way of personal independence, does not destroy the demand on the independent. Our nation has not found the idealization of the abstract and sharing sovereignty worth her to make sacrifices....... Eventually she no longer deceived experience. She saw people treat the despotic power worse than the worst of the law. However, the law also should have their limits.

The results show that the French Revolution, the French nation is a modern nation be above suspicion doubt, her desire is the modern freedom, only coincides with the characteristics of the times of the freedom to live. Because the individual is essence of modern freedom, therefore, not only from the era of ancient Republic not exist, but many in the midst of the ancient republics, the effective system and the modern meaning of freedom which, if transplanted into modern will be pressed to personal and cannot survive.

Gentlemen, if I have succeeded in making you accept these facts lead to the conclusion it, you will like me and acknowledge the truth of the following principles. Personal independence is the first need of modern people: therefore, anyone can never requirements of the modern people to make any sacrifice, to achieve political freedom. The resulting, many critically acclaimed system have hindered the individual freedom in the ancient republics, in modern unacceptable.

Benjamin Constant lists four was highly respected ancient system: Athens ostracism, Rome's Ombudsman, education regulation and religious regulation, one by one, refuted. He pointed out, on the legitimacy of ostracism is established in two aspects: one is the metaphysics, that political deals with completely to the members' rights; the second is effective, in a city of the Republic of small, regardless of a person for any reason and has high influence possible adverse effects on the Democratic operation. However, this two reason in modern has ceased to exist, on the one hand, the individual has the political body must respect the rights, on the other hand, separate personal effects for public affairs has extremely weak, therefore, to weaken the personal influence as the reason for the exiled citizens has no effect, nor justice. Constant in a very "British" way out, unless you are a permanent court according to the law, convicted of crimes must be banished, otherwise, no one was in exile, political exile to the abuse of political power and public safety violations.

The ombudsman system into the modern possibility, which points out the effective operation, supervision system is built in Rome at the time of the actual social situation. City of the Republic of simple fashion and high participation in public life, the ombudsman system can have an impact, at the same time, also receives the restriction. "Once the Republic's scale, the complexity of social relations and the degree of civilization and progress of the system for its existence and basis to control does not exist, the ombudsman system even in Rome declined." At the time France under the circumstances, morality is highly uncertain, not by any person to grasp that, if the ombudsman system will become an invalid and intolerable tyranny system, influenced by the whole nation against. Other aspects of ancient system such as education, religion in modern times are the same with the ombudsman system effect. Because these systems are compatible with the ancient free form and life style, and when they separated from the ancient social conditions and placed individually into modern, they not only can not achieve the same effect with the ancient, on the contrary, will become a terrible repression of personal freedom. Therefore, "gentlemen, we don't believe this worship of some ancient memory. Because we live in a modern, we require a suitable for the modern freedom".

Four, two kinds of freedom in the modern relationship

In the ancient ideal of the Republic are doomed to destruction in modern and ancient single system is not suitable for the modern explanation, in the last part of speech into two kinds of freedom in the modern explanation of the relation of the. First of all, which reiterated, individual freedom is the modern freedom. But for modern people, only need to personal freedom is enough? And be not so. Modern people also need from the ancient freedom and political freedom, political freedom is the guarantee of the individual freedom, but if the requirements of the modern people like the ancient people to sacrifice personal freedom, political freedom, no different from the deprivation of personal liberty, and once deprived of personal freedom, and deprived of political freedom would be an easy job to the.

Here, which points out two kinds of freedom in the interdependent relationship between modern. Complete freedom of modern people should be composed of two parts, one part is the unique personal freedom, another part is inherited from the ancient political freedom, under modern conditions, individual freedom is the more center position. Not only the political freedom is the guarantee of the individual freedom, and modern society, individual freedom is also a political freedom, under the social conditions and political structure of the ancient, no individual freedom and political freedom can exist independently, self support, but in the modern, destroy of personal freedom is deprived of political freedom from only one step.

Emphasizing individual freedom does not mean to belittle the political freedom in the modern position, is not equal to deny the modern significance of political freedom. Benjamin his theory of political freedom and belittle the modern value of the theory to make a strict distinction. Unable to realize the ancient freedom in modern society, but this does not mean that the modern society will inevitably be vulgar utilitarian and political despotism, the difference between the modern and ancient does not mean that the modern people must give up political freedom, on the contrary, the modern people need and can be equally get two free.

We will not weaken the security, but we must extend the fun. We don't want to give up political freedom, but to ask the freedom of citizens in other forms of political freedom and. The government did not have more rights than before to arrogate illegal power. On the contrary, from a legitimate source of government only has less of an individual's right to exercise absolute power. We still have our rights today, such as agreed with the eternal rights laws, we discussed the interests, become the basic components of a social entity by our rights. However, the government has new responsibilities: change the progress of civilization as well as several century brought, demanding the authorities on the custom, the emotional and personal independence have greater respect."

In the modern society which seems to, does not mean that the reduction in free field, on the contrary, implies that the expansion of free field. A legitimate government not only to achieve personal political participation, but also, domain independent must respect individual. This is not only the duty of government, but also the government's interest.

Why is the government's interests? At first glance, this is puzzling. Benjamin explained. Since the cause of liberty and the ancient people caused by modern people's freedom fundamentally different social conditions change, so, the same reason also makes the ancient political tyranny of individuals not complex in modern can be established. May the modern people ignore the political freedom of personal liberty, however, the modern society to modern other people safeguard the free way, this protection also exists in the nature of the business of the society. A commercial society the despotic power of multiply and more oppressive, on the other hand, is the liberation of the individual, the despotic power more easily escape. This is because the characteristics of business giving wealth to circulation, make the property becomes difficult to control, the individual can always take their property fly far and high, but also take along with property business opportunities. The business has made Europe in close contact and highly similar customs, between country and country and between the rival will not affect people's mutual integration. More importantly, the business can not only the liberation of individuals, even the power itself in the attached position.

A French writer once wrote: "the monetary despotism is the most dangerous weapons, but also the restriction on it the most powerful; business credit influence by public opinion; the power of no use; currency can be hidden or transfer; all countries operate temporarily do not work." Commercial credit in ancient times people are not so, their government than individual powerful; but in our times, personal than political power.

Business has its own mechanism, formed by the commercial credit commercial credit mechanism is not affected by the state power, and high liquidity, so that it can get rid of the control of the state. Not only that, wealth can also form a kind of independent "power", through the benefits promised to attract people to succeed at the service, and the power of competition. "Wealth is a in all cases is more visible, more applicable to all interests, and therefore more real, more people to obey authority. Power is threatened, wealth is the reward: people can escape the power by cheating way; but if you want to get the favour of fortune, it is necessary to service: therefore, wealth will win." Therefore, not power independent of commercial, above the business, but business is independent of the operation of power, and even make the power advantage.

From the two section of the business analysis, we can see the following two: first, the social reality of Europe has been in existence for a beyond the development has not yet unified market mature nation, formation precedes the national political power of it, the market of business credit mechanism of independent functioning, have very powerful, even forcing national political power to the concession. Second, as a result of unified market, European customs have highly close, people can flow freely between countries without obstacle, also makes the individual for a particular political community is relatively weak sense of belonging.

Is not said in a speech, is the national unified market prior to the political power of the state to create wealth and free flow condition for the Europeans, thus giving the Europeans to independent of political freedom. Man can take the monetary wealth flow freely, it will not cause any real damage to individuals, but the need for wealth is loss of political power, and therefore, the political power to keep it, you must provide the protection of personal freedom. This is why respect individual domain is not only the duty of government, but also the government's interest.

Observation and judgment on such a society based on the fact, the next is a confident assertion: "let power Retreat: we must have freedom, we will have a free". "Must have free" is a value judgment, "will have free" is a fact judgment, they can get the same. However, due to the new era of freedom is different from the ancient freedom, therefore, requires a different ancient political organization to realize the free. For the ancient people, the participation of public affairs more fully, more freedom; but for modern people, the exercise of political rights for more free personal leave, freedom is more precious. This is helpful to the modern people achieve their freedom of political organization is the representative. The representative and the constant compared to the housekeeper, in public without sufficient time and need to safeguard their own interests, who commissioned a number of as their representative to care for their affairs. But as the housekeeper rich on their own affairs to maintain a good understanding and close supervision of the housekeeper whether due diligence, people must also exercise and continuous supervision actively on behalf of, and keep on behalf of their bad to his right.

In other words, the freedom of the individual is a product of modern commercial society, it is not easy to social fact, from this social fact gave birth to the new spirit of the times, while the modern social political organization must adapt to this kind of freedom, and this freedom to adapt it and business society. To adapt to the modern commercial society and individual freedom, this is the modern political organizations must be endowed with the characteristics of "modern" era. At this point, which has completely discussed the connotation of modern freedom as individual freedom, personal freedom and security for the social conditions and social structure, and adapt with the individual freedom of political organization. At the end of his speech, which turned to discussions of political freedom.

Due to the different connotation of freedom, freedom is in danger of modern and ancient may encounter different. It may be due to focus only on sharing sovereignty and ignore the individual value, and modern people may be due to indulge themselves and give up easily on political power in. This is especially likely to be the ruler's encourage, encourage individuals to hand over the political rights and seek private pleasure, but this approach is stupid, without political freedom, individual freedom is like building on the sand for building.

So far, echoes with the first section of this part of the show, political freedom seems to be a kind of tool function, its value is merely as a means to safeguard individual freedom. However, there has been an important turning point in the next three sections. Benjamin Constant unequivocally that, personal happiness and do not even deserve to be called the human the only object in life, to give up the noble behavior and moral competence is the personality of self deprecation, will finally and happy no margin. Human beings are higher than the pursuit of private desires part, that is the common affairs of human involvement and on their own wisdom and virtue of ascension, this is human self development, and political freedom is the most effective means of self development. Political freedom to concern and evaluation on the interests of the citizens of equality to all citizens, thus enriching their spiritual and sublimate their thoughts, and stir up their love for the country in the equal concern, a national honor and power.

Therefore, let us have a look when a nation has restored its original system to exercise political freedom will be how to develop normal. Have a look of our fellow citizens, regardless of class, regardless of occupation, from their daily work and private industrial field talent showing itself, suddenly found himself is its important responsibilities enshrined in the constitution, they choose the right way, with abundant energy to resist, contempt of all kinds of threats, nobly refused to seduce. Look, win a patriotic pure, deep, sincere in our town, before we even raised the smallest village, filled in our workshop, it has made the country full of vitality, it penetrated the consciousness of rights and the need to safeguard consciousness in about farmers and industrious businessman that justice and utility honest spirit...... To the state of their gratitude watching all of France, and to participate in the election the way repay the country, after 30 years of time, the principle of loyalty embodied in the excellent free to defend the body.

If the individual freedom is the protection of private life, so, political freedom and is better than the protection of private life purpose, namely to increase personal virtue. Increase personal virtue is the common affairs and political community participation together, this is to prevent the "modern society make people threatening to people of prejudice, corrosion of egoism, an anesthesia frivolous, make people fall vulgar pleasure, a clamp autocracy to people, autocratic the service and make it more constructive knowledge and rigorous science" clever sliding barrier. Of the constant, although the European single market has provided cross-border free flow conditions for the individual, but not without a country. The business community can not completely eliminate the political demand, this demand lies in human nature, and is the higher part. As ancient, politics in political participation of citizens freedom of humanity, and noble part of the call, and the political body itself will benefit from this true binding.

Benjamin Constant in his speech almost indiscriminately "political freedom" and "liberty of the ancients" the equivalent, in fact, can see, free to show the direct participation of the sovereign power is exercised, the ancient people's freedom in modern copy has not, can not be equated with the ancient liberty, in this significance on the limited political participation of citizens representative to it, it is a kind of "modern" adaptation of the political freedom, is another part of modern freedom, however, is the political participation rights as the development of virtue means, satisfy people higher desire, and realize the political combination way, it it is inherited from the ancient, is a kind of "ancient liberty".

So, gentlemen, we will not give up what I describe two free of any kind. As I have shown, we must learn to two kinds of freedom together. The famous author of medieval history of the Republic has said, the system must accomplish the mission of mankind, if a system can make as many citizens as possible rise to the highest moral realm, it is best to achieve this goal. If legislators only bring peace to the people, the work is not complete. Even when satisfied people, there are still many unfinished business. The system must realize the moral education of citizens. On the one hand, the system must respect the rights of the citizens, safeguard their independence, to avoid interference in their work; on the other hand, the system must respect the sacred rights of citizens to influence public affairs, called on citizens to vote the way to participate in the exercise of power, giving them the right to express their views, and the implementation of control and supervision; in this way, through the performance of these noble duties edification, citizens will have both the desire and the right to fulfill these duties.

Independence is not enough system only protect the individual, a good system is committed to the promotion of civic virtue, enhance political combination. Political freedom is not just a means to safeguard individual freedom, is a way of self promotion of human nature. Two kinds of free combination is not a simple coexist, but interdependent and mutual coordination, from individual to civic virtues promotion.

Conclusion: the constitutional liberal social conditions

As "the founder of modern liberalism, respected and 'freedom and privacy of the most eloquent defenders'", make the system on two kinds of freedom compared and elaborated the first person, we in this classic speech did not see as at the beginning of the article, cited "Declaration of independence" and the "Declaration of human rights" to free a priori theory of value type descriptions, in contrast, which seems to prove to us that, free is a product of certain social conditions and social structure, is natural from the social structure in the growth of. Benjamin Constant understanding of "modern" not religious reform, not the enlightenment, but formed naturally in the centuries in the commercial society, he thought that freedom is not a priori "human rights", natural product but historical social conditions, legal rights exist in certain social structure. Constant shows us, European individual freedom ultimately dependent and formed in a prior to European national unified European market and a unified society, the fact of national political power depend on wealth, forcing it to make concessions to the business community, mechanism makes itself suitable for the commercial society, that business social freedom. This is characteristic of the modern society of Europe, is the doctrine of constitution of social conditions.