Research On Heller's Political Ethics

It is well-known thatpolitical ethics is an ancient problem.Discussions on political ethics have appeared in the period of ancient Greece in the West.Although political ethics encountered “cold winter” for some reasons in historical periods,political and ethical issues have become increasingly prominentwith human beings threatened by extreme political thoughts such as totalitarianism and nationalism in twentieth century.Therefore,it has reignited people's thinking and discussion on the issue of political ethics.Since the 20 th century,the discussion of political and ethical issues has shown agradual changes from the macro level to the micro level.Moreandmore scholars are concerned about the cultural factors behind politics,the relationship between daily life and political life.They advocated pluralism and differences.Oneofthe representativesfromEastern Europe.Agnes Heller,who had been persecuted twice by totalitarian regimes,was deeply concernedwithpolitical ethics.From the perspective of political ethics at the micro level,she discussed the living state of human beings,the existence state of human society and the future of human beings.Sheproposed a very realistic humanitarian political ethics thought.On the whole,Heller's political ethics was to reflect on the state of human political life in the historical background of modernity and explored the way of returning to the ethical essence of political life.Heller,from the perspectiveof historical materialism,combined macro and micro,reality and ideal,internal and external,synchronic and diachronic.On one hand,she discussed the moral content contained in the values of freedom,justice and equality in politics and the ethical characteristics in political life.On the other hand,she explored the moral principles in political life.Heller reflected on the existing world from a postmodern perspective and revealed that the existing world was in crisis and dilemma,and that modern political life had lost its ethical essence.Hence,Heller,from a radical humanitarian standpoint that negated and transcended the existing world,explored the best possible socio-political world inwhich everyone can enjoy the equal freedom and opportunities in life.To this end,Heller explored the possibility of humanization and democratization in mankind political live.On this basis,she constructed a political ethical standard based on good citizens for modern democratic politics,and strengthened the ethical core and moral content of political life.Furthermore,she explored the meaningful life style and revealed the complementary relationship between the best possible sociopolitical world and the diversified good life from the perspective of the combination of the political ethics.Heller's political-ethical conception enabled Marx's theory of human freedom and comprehensive development to be embodied in the context of modernity,showingpractical operability and reference.