The Liberal State View Of Harrington

Harrington, as a Republican thinker in the seventeenth century during the English Civil War, published his masterpiece Oceana in 1656. In order to avoid detection from the government, Harrington expressed his political views carefully, and writed the book in the form of novels. The book described the ideals of a fictitious state "Oceana", but the true purpose of Harrington Oceana was based on the conclusions from historical experiences and the British governments, criticized the government at that time, more importantly, explored the future of social reforms in Britain. Harrington hoped to solve the problems in Britain.Studies about Harrington in china, firstly defined him as a utopian writer or a supporter of the system of aristocratic oligarchy, and then as a classical republican thinker, recently introduced him briefly as a neo-roman theorist. After the twentieth century nineties, researchers have done some particular studies in some theories in the book such as the rule of law, mix and balance, equality, economic base determines the superstructure. Overall, the value and historical status of Harrington and Oceana have not received sufficient attentions and concerns.As a thinker who promoted republicanism, his view of the liberal state throughout the book. The integrity of the structure is not close in an orderly and logical manner to show, but this does not affect the unique nature and importance of his liberal state theory. My essay will base on the text of Oceana, chose the liberal state view of Harrington as the unique perspective, summarize and organize the view systematically. Do my best to make a more accurate assessment on its history status and value.Harrington pointed out that individual liberty and national liberty are consistent. Harrington believes that loss of liberty refers to a person who is not in accordance with his will to live, dependent on others. He pointed out that only under the premise that a state is liberal, personal freedom of a citizen is to be protected. The establishment of a country under the rule of law depends on the two major principles of commonwealth, one is the goods of the fortune, and the other is the goods of the mind. The state is built on property rights. Therefore, the balance of fortunes comes from agrarian and the balance of government comes from rotation. The balance of fortune could maintain national force and the virtue. Goods of the mind include reason, virtue and law. Legislate activities are in accordance with the principle of dividing and choosing, with the purpose that develop the common interests. Senate and people's Assembly master the two powers about dividing and choosing. The function of administrative system is to implement the law. Religious beliefs also play a unique role in maintain the goods of the mind in the state.Four years after Oceana be published, there was a great sensation in the United Kingdom. Harrington was considered as the most important republican thinkers in the seventeenth century. Subsequently, the political ideology of Harrington was introduced into the United States, and then had a significant impact. Since the twentieth century fifties, the revival of contemporary republicanism, Harrington is considered as the most important thinkers in English Civil War.In modern times, the mainstream of western political thoughts is Liberalism. In china, researches about the general history of western political thoughts, mainly according to the development of liberalism. Skinner is committed to revival the view of liberty in Classical republican, raised a new research direction"Liberty before Liberalism". The value of Harrington's political thought is to be reviewed. In china, Harrington's theory about liberty and liberal state should not be neglected.