严复和实证主义——从严复看西方早期实证主义对中国近代维新思想家的影响

YAN Fu and Positivism ——Effects of Early Western Positivism from YAN Fu on Reforming Thinkers in Modern China

在维新运动中,严复提倡变法自强,反对因循守旧;提倡民主,反对专制;提倡新学,反对旧学。但到运动破产后,他鼓吹改良,反对革命;宣扬不可知论,并为宗教张本。这种前后迥异的变化固然是由于其所属阶级的软弱性和局限性所致,但也同其在思想上受实证主义的影响分不开的。

The article mainly discusses the complex effects of the early positivism on reforming thinkers in modem china by YAN Fu. During the movement, YAN Fu was for reform to self-strive, against conformism, for new academies, against the old. But after its failure, he was for improvement but against revolution, airing agnosticism and religion. All this is due to the weakness and limitations of his class, but is also indispensable to the effects of positivism on him.