试论民俗学的独立学科性质——兼与施爱东博士商榷

On the Feature of Independent Discipline of Folklore——Discussion with Dr. Shi Aidong

施爱东在《学科界限与学术取向》一文中从民俗学与人类学的关系、民俗学界学科取向多元化的现状、当前形势下民俗学者选择研究课题时的趋利性考虑、民俗学从业者未形成一个真正的学术共同体等4个方面论述,否定了民俗学作为一门独立学科的性质。但实际上人类学与民俗学是有着诸多不同的,诸如研究对象的不同与其对所研究的社会或文化现象所持态度的区别;民俗学研究的对象或范围或许宽泛一些,但它是由几方面特征一以贯之的一个整体;至于施博士对当前形势下民俗学者选择研究课题时表现出的趋利性的批评,对时弊的针砭是深刻的,然而却不能作为怀疑民俗学是一门独立学科的依据。需要说明的是,民俗学尚未形成一个完整的、严谨的学科体系。

Shi Aidong denied the folklore as an independent discipline in his article named as 《Disciplinary Boundaries and Academic Orientation》 from the following aspects. That is. the relation- ship between folklore and anthropology; the diverse academic orientation of folklore; the benefit--ori- ented selection of academic projects by the experts in this field and non--formation of an academic community of the folklore professionals. But in fact, folklore and anthropology differ in many aspects such as different subjects of the two disciplines and different attitudes toward the studied social and cultural phenomenon. The scope and the subject of folklore might be wider than those of anthropolo- gy. But folklore is an integrated subject composed of several aspects and features. As to the benefit- oriented selection of academic projects by the experts in this field, I believe the criticism is sharp. But it cannot be used as a basis of negating the folklore as an independent discipline. It is necessary to point out that the folklore has not formed an integrated and rigorous subject system.