思辨的历史哲学及其对于历史学的价值

Speculative Philosophy of History and Its Value to Historical Study

观察历史整体进程,探求其中的模式或规律,并据此阐释人类历史经验,这种理论探究通常被称为"思辨的历史哲学"。关于这类宏大叙事对于历史学的作用或价值,哲学家和历史学家有不同的态度和看法。实际上,出于追求历史意义的天性,历史学家必然会诉诸思辨的历史哲学。思辨的历史哲学既能够以其所提供的阐释模式而使历史具有可理解性,又能够以其所勾画的美好未来而使历史具有合道德性,从而能够使诉诸它的历史学具有合理性。思辨的历史哲学尽管具有不同程度的思辨性和先验性,但它与历史经验之间并非截然对立,而且能够起到一种方法论意义上的"启发或激励"的作用。

Taking the entire process of history as a whole to explore its patterns or laws,and based on it,to interpret historical human experience—this kind of theoretical research is often called"speculative philosophy of history."About the significance or value of this kind of grand narrative,philosophers and historians have different opinions.In fact,historians,out of their inherent nature of inquiring historical meaning,can’t be oblivious to speculative philosophy of history.This is because it not only helps to make history understandable by providing models of interpretation but also provides morality for history by picturing a bright future,therefore provides rationality for historiography resorted to it.Although it has some speculative and transcendental nature,speculative philosophy of history is not entirely opposed to historical experiences;instead it can be"enlightening and inspiring"in terms of methodology.