严复历史观散论

A Survey of Yan Fu's Historical Perspectives

在中国近代,严复最早批判否定了“天不变道亦不变”的不变论。他虽看到社会进化过程中善恶苦乐并进的现象,但并未由此陷入悲观,走向虚无。他始终否定英雄史观,并对英雄人物的历史作用作了比较科学的说明。对于刚传入中国的地理环境决定论,他作了比较正确的分析评价。他的渐进论虽有抵制革命的一面,但对反对速成论和重视人的近代化曾产生了积极影响。

In the recent history of China, Yan Fu was the first to critically refute the unchanging theory of “Nature does not change, neither does the Way.' He did not degenerate into pessimism and go for nihilism, though he witnessed the co-existence of an assortment of good, evil, bitterness and happiness in the course of social evolution. He consistently refuted the heroistic perspectives of history and commented in relatively scientific terms the historical functions of heroes. Also, he conducted a fair analysis and evaluation of the determinism of geographical environment which was just introduced into China. Though his evolutionism is characteristic of resisting revolution, his opposition to ideas of quick results and emphasis on the modernization of man did achieve positive effects.