文学是什么

What is Literature

关于文学是什么有两种极其对立的倾向:一种是本质主义的,追求文学绝对的、放之四海而皆准的、亘古不变的定义;另一种是打着反本质主义的旗号,否定文学可以定义。这两种倾向我都不赞成,在当下尤其后一种倾向需要认真反思。我认为:第一,文学没有那种永恒的、亘古不变的本质,但是却非没有相对意义上的本质,而这相对意义上的本质是由人类客观历史实践所建构的,因而是随历史、随时代而变化的。第二,这相对意义上的本质并非不可把握,它不是凝固不变的,其历史变化,并不妨碍它的可认定性、可把握性、可定义性。从根本上说文学是一种审美文化现象,是人类审美实践活动和艺术的一种,是以语言文字为媒介而进行的人类审美价值之创造、抒写、传达和接受,其关键词为语言文字、审美价值、创造、抒写、传达、接受。因此,文学的本质(性质)有其自身规定性,绝非主观随意"认定",作为当下历史时期的人对文学的观察只是一家之言。

About what literature is , there are two kinds of extremely opposing tendencies： one is to pursue the absolute, universal and timeless definition of literature ; the other is to deny literature can be defined. I don 5 t agree with these two tendencies. At present, I think, especially the latter should be seriously reflected on. To my point of view, literature does not have the eternal timeless essence, but it does not mean that it does not have the essence on a relative level; this kind of essence can be identified and defined. Literature is fundamentally a kind of aesthetic culture phenomenon, a kind of human aesthetic practical activity and a kind of art. From this perspective, literature is creation, expression, communication and acceptance of human aesthetic value with the medium of language and words.