Between Individual And State

The relationship between individuals and countries has been one of the core problems in the construction of the western capitalist countries,and the key issues in the study of Eastern and Western politics.William Von Humboldt is a well-known scholar in the history of the liberalism thought of Germany,and he has a lot of insight into the discussion of the relationship between individuals and states.This paper takes the relationship between individuals and states in his political thought as the entry point,and analyzes the unique political thought of him in an in-depth way with on the role of the country.“Enlightenment and the modern transformation of Europe'” and “Prussian under the enlightened monarcy” are the background of Humboldt's political thought at home and abroad.The ancient Greek civilization,the national view of German thinkers under the Enlightenment and German romanticism are the theoretical basis of Humboldt's political thought.On the basis of this point,this paper takes “personal view” and “national view” as the “two sides of Humboldt's political thought”: in the personal view,Humboldt,on the basis of “theory of goodness” as the ethical basis,through the explanation of the traditional concept “Bildung” in German philosophy,the dual coupling of individual role group significance and individual meaning is determined.In the view of the State,Humboldt adheres to the theory of state means,and the state is only a means to safeguard the personal interests and purpose,the purpose of which is to promote happiness and prevent disadvantages.Hence he expounds the “positive welfare” and “negative welfare” of the state's functions,which delineates the scope for the performance of the state's functions.On the basis of “personal view” and “national view”,Humboldt's political thought takes the concept of “the consortium of free people” as the theoretical purpose: on the one hand,“freedom” is the value demand of it,with “personal internal development” and “limited power of state” into account;On the other hand,the purpose of the “the consortium of free people” is “the shaping of free people” and the essence of it is “the civil society”.Through the explanation of Humboldt's political thought,this paper analyzes the theoretical contribution of Humboldt's political thought and its limitation.Its theoretical contribution is mainly manifested in the new interpretation of the relationship between the individual and the state and the promotion and development of the liberal political philosophy.Its limitations are mainly manifested in the epistemological idealism and anti-rationalism,the excessive devaluing of the role of the state and laissez-faire,and the tension between its political theory and practice.