思想“在场”:当代中国社会史研究的基点

“On Spot” Thinking: the Foundation of Social History Study in Today's China

近年来,当代中国社会史研究的视野呈现出从宏观向区域下移的趋势。这一趋势虽在总体上推进了研究的精细化,但不少区域史研究沉溺于地方史料的堆积和单纯事实的叙述,暴露出思想的缺位。这其中最大的问题在于,没有思想引领的区域化研究不能带来学科知识的实质性进步,造成千孔一面的"故事型"学术成果泛滥。正因如此,从事当代社会史研究的学人有必要秉持总体史的问题意识,以发掘区域的研究意义为目的,审视"人"的主体性,并寻求可资对话的"中层理论"。当代社会史研究如此才能从繁杂琐碎的地方史料中找寻到思想的"在场",才能为书写有思想和灵魂的大历史奠定坚实的基础。

In recent years,social history study in China today has formed a new trend,changing from the interest in macro history to that of regional history. This trend in general has helped present more detailed research. But many regional social historical studies have also been content with the presentation of local sources and narrating facts,without showing in-depth analysis. The biggest problem we think is that mere source presentation without deep thinking would not bring about real progress in a field. Instead,it would only lead to the overproduction of one type of narrative history that fails to show the function of historical study. We think it necessary for practitioners of social history to develop a sense of problematic and discover the meaning of social history study at the regional level. It should examine the humans as the subjectivity of history and consult and utilize certain middle range theories in research. Only by doing so,the authors argue,that regional social history can find its thinking right 'on spot'while going through a massive amount of fragmented materials and provide the solid foundation for presenting history with soul and spirit,so to speak.