Harrington’s Inheritance And Development Of Classical Republicanism

James Harrington as the very important Republicanism thinker of17th century, with hisunique political perspective, he inspected the crises of political institution during the period ofEnglish civil war and no king, and stated his republicanism thought in his major worksOceana.With the classical republicanism theory’s important and profound expressionrepresented by John Pocock, skinner Cambridge school,and little achievement in domestic,the author walked into the magnificent history for an in-depth analysis of the Oceania text,combed with important theoretical results of Cambridge school at the same time, and exploredHarrington’s inheritance and development of classical republicanism theory.This article is divided into five parts：The first part expounds the Harrington’s inheritance of classical republicanism theory.First, the author sketched the classic republican tradition from Aristotle, Cicero to Machiavelli.Second, analysed the profound reasons of classical republicanism tradition thatimported to England. Finally, after summarized the characteristics of the classical republictradition, from two aspects of mixed regime and the republic of the rule by law, the authordiscussed the Harrington’s inheritance of classical republicanism theory.The second part two mainly analysed Harrington’s development of classicalrepublicanism theory based on the Oceana text. Mainly includes: First, is the"balance" theoryof mixed regime. As the core concept of Harrington’s republican thought,"Balance"constituted the basis of all of his theoretical system, and form the relation of the economicbase and superstructure with dividing and choosing. Second, is the republic of the rule by lawof equality in the concrete system design. Mainly from two aspects of agrarian law androtation, to explore how Harrington turn his theory into actual. Third, is the discussion ofvirtue. Harrington based civic virtue on the balance of the property,truly realized theindependence of citizens,and solved a difficult problem in the classical republic since ancientGreece: personal attachment to the country. Fourth, is about the analysis of the freedom.Mainly includes freedom without control and the combination of harrington of republicanismand liberalism.The third part mainly about the influence of the thought of James Harrington. ByAnalyzing his thought spreading in the United States, the author tried to prove that Harrington had successfully implemented the acceptance and the development of classicalrepublicanism theory and played an important role by his idea’s spreading far and wide inNorth America.The fourth part is evaluation. First is the feat, the author tried to read the theory ofHarrington serving as a connecting link between the preceding and the following from thedubious relationship of Harrington, Machiavell and Hobbes. Second is the defects, One isabout the nobleman’s positioning, to show that Harrington still advocated aristocraticdemocracy and ignored the equality. The other one is his neglect of conflict between businessand the virtue. In the end, is the dispute on Harrington’s republican identity.The fifth part is epilogue. The author will reaffirm Harrington’s achievement in this part,even he had not foreseen the conflict between business and the virtue of next century, but histhoughts still have played an important role.