Abstract: Any political theory has its specific value structure in order to offer ethical support for practical proposition, institutional structure and policy mechanism, and switches its connotation with the development of conditions of politics, economy and culture. There are several important phase in the development of the theory western political liberalism, such as phases of enlightenment, utilitarianism and modern liberalism. Natural rights, principle of utility and social justnice are separately asks of core values for different phases. Interpreting and analyzing the switch of ethical connotation of liberalism and the difficulties in theoretical and practical level, may offer a useful theoretical perspective for realizing the tendency of value and policy of western contemporary liberalism.

Key words: natural right, utilitarianism, social justice, ethical value

摘要： 任何完整的政治理论都有其特定的价值结构,为其现实政治主张、制度结构、政策机制的提供伦理支持,并随着时代政治、经济、文化条件的发展而变换其内涵。西方自由主义政治理论的发展分为启蒙时期、功利主义、现代自由主义等重要阶段,自然权利、功利原则和社会公正分别是其不同时代的核心价值要求。阐释和分析自由主义的伦理内涵变换及其理论和现实困境,为了解当代西方自由主义的价值变换及政策走向提供了一个有益的理论视角。

关键词: 自然权利, 功利主义, 社会正义, 伦理价值