Modern Philanthropy as Gift: Thoughts on a philanthropic volunteer program in a Chinese rural village

本文关注公益与民情的关系，旨在以人类学意义上的礼物来理解现代公益以及公益施受双方的相互关系，进而丰富礼物的现代蕴涵。文章以公益组织“乡村阅读”在乡土社会的志愿项目为切入点，在参与观察的基础上，以乡土社会的互惠原则为镜，思考现代公益的相互性问题。互惠原则突出了讨论公益双方相互关系的必要性，“混融”及公民的“礼”与“义”则为理解现代公益施受双方的相互关系提供了可能。现代公益与乡土社会的相遇既呈现了当代中国社会多重的道德图景，亦体现出社会变迁过程中民情存续与变化的轨迹。超越共同体的边界及简单互惠的逻辑来理解人与人、人与社会的现代关系，是公益成为链合传统共同体与现代公共性社会之可能途径的观念前提。

This article considers the relationship between modern philanthropy and social mores，and examines the relationship between the giver and recipient from the perspective of Maussian gift exchange theory.Drawing upon an ethnographic research project on a philanthropic volunteer program in a Chinese village, this paper discusses the logic of reciprocity expressed in rural society and modern philanthropy.It argues that the key to understanding the mutual relations between the giver and recipient in philanthropy involves “intermingling”, “civility”, and “civics”, as discussed by Mauss in The Gift.The encounter between modern philanthropy and the rural society exemplifies the multiple layers of moral norms and practices, as well as the continuance and change of social mores in contemporary China.Finally, this paper argues that modern philanthropy will become a possible linkage between the local community and civil society under the condition that we go beyond the traditional framework of community and utilitarian reciprocity to understand the relationship between individuals and the relationship between individuals and the society.

李荣荣

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