摘要
历史研究的任务在很大程度上就是建构历史解释,而建构历史解释的关键环节是理解。历史学家面对遥远而陌生的过去世界,要对前人抱有“了解之同情”,以博大的襟怀和丰富的知识来了解前人及其生活,尽力突破时空和文化的阻隔,以期对过去做出公正而贴切的解释。诚然,真正理解前人及其生活是一件极为困难的事情,但对历史学家来说,理解首先是一种态度和愿望,基于这种态度和愿望,研究者就会极尽可能地收集材料、调动各种知识和理论资源,以准确地了解前人,避免武断和简单化的评判。当然,“同情”不是同意,“了解”也不是认可。研究者要以中性的立场来建构解释,而不能将自己等同于过去事件的参与者或辩护人。
Historical research is said to be, to a great extent, a construction of historical interpretations, and the key point in this process is understanding. Facing with a distant and unfamiliar past, the historian should cherish a “sympathetic understanding' toward the people in the past, penetrate their lives with compassion and by means of rich knowledge. The historian has to struggle with obstacles that derive from the differences of times, spaces, and cultures, in order to work out proper interpretations of the past. Nevertheless, a real understanding of the people in the past is indeed a immensely difficult task to undertake, but the historian needs the attitude and intention to understand the past on its own terms, thus he or she will be willing to try every means to collect materials, to make use of any available resources in order to interpret the past in a proper way, to avoid arbitrary and simplified judgments. “Sympathy', however, does not imply agreement, and “understanding' does not mean identifying with the subject matter either. The historian ought to maintain neutrality while dealing with his or her subject matter, and prevent him/herself from becoming a participator or a defender of the past events.
出处
《史学集刊》
CSSCI
北大核心
2005年第3期19-25,共7页
Collected Papers of History Studies
关键词
历史解释
理解
心通意会
中性立场
historical interpretation
understanding
empathy
neutrality
