柏克政治思想述评

柏克的政治思想内容庞杂，学界争论也较多，尽管一般地他被看做保守主义的教父，但同时也具有自由主义的面相。要完整地把握柏克的思想，似需从两方面着手：（1）在英国及其殖民地政治事务上，他常常表现出自由主义的一面。不过，从英格兰政治思想史角度来看，则背离了洛克所奠基的自由主义原则。（2）在法国革命问题上，他的思想表现出更多的保守主义成分，且这一思想直接导致了辉格党的分裂，却也砥砺了后来的保守党；这种保守主义思想应用于英国及其殖民地的政治事务也许是适当的，但若用来指导其他国家则是荒谬的，甚或是“反动的”。

On Burke' s Political Ideas

Burke's political ideas are very complicated, which have been made more argued by scholars. Although Burke is regarded as the father of modern conservatism, he always had a face of liberalism. This article states that, to understand Burke' thoughts, we must focus mainly on two points. On one hand, in his opinions on the politics of England and it's colonies, he often showed liberal thoughts, but, from the history of British liberalist point of view, he went against the principle of liberalism based by Locke. On the other hand, in the matter of French Revolution, his thoughts showed more ingredients of conservatism and had directly resulted in the collapse of the Whigs, and nourished conservatism in later time. His conservatism might be compatible if used in England, but absurd or reactionary if used to direct political affairs of other nations.