政治批判与学术建设——梁启超和鲁宾逊《新史学》的比较研究

Political Criticism versus Academic Construction——A Comparative Study of Liang Qi Chao's and James Harvey Robinson's "The New History"

1902年,中国著名政治家、思想家梁启超发表了划时代的思想巨著《新史学》。他高举起“史界革命”的大旗,批判旧史学,提倡新史学,宣告了中国近代史学的诞生。历史往往有惊人的巧合。10年之后,另一部同名的史学名著在大洋彼岸的美国问世,作者是美国著名历史学家詹姆斯·鲁宾逊。在这部《新史学》中,也提出要以新史学来取代旧史学,从此在美国形成了一个“新史学”学派。又一个10年过去,美国的这部《新史学》

Early in the twentieth century,two famous works appeared at nearly the same time and with the same title. Some scholars believe these two works have similar views. Yet I believe their similarities are superficial.Because Liang wrote'The New History'to propagandize democratic theories. Yet Robinson, wrote 'The New History 'for historical sake.Liang regarded traditional Chinese history as the political tool of the autocratic government and severely criticized it. On the other hand, Robinson objectively analyzed the deficiencies of Western traditional history. Liang also believed history should have important function in political affairs while Robinson believed history could help people know themselves. While Liang only concerned himself with the history of nations, Robinson's book had a much wider range and deeper content. However,each work is valuable in its own way.