直面“孤证”:态度·方法·价值

The Attitude,Method and Value of“Uncorroborated Evidence”

“孤证不立”是近现代学术研究的基本原则,然而当代文学史料具有不容忽视的“当代性”。“毛罗对话”、“关于《古船》的指示”、多多的“白洋淀诗歌”与“路遥转让工作名额”事件,均为文学史孤证,却能在史实晦暗难明的情况下,显现历史真相的冰山一角,成为撬动历史真相的第一把“杠杆”,具有不容替代的文学史价值。一条孤证引发证实与证伪的学术讨论,将被埋没的史实钩沉出来,就是孤证的独特价值。“证实”孤证,给还原历史史实以有力的启迪或深刻的暗示,循着孤证线索建立完整的证据链;“证伪”孤证激发人们钩沉历史真相的兴趣,开辟出另一番学术天地。中国当代文学研究应该直面孤证,当孤证尚孤之时,给予孤证足够的尊重和宽容,不能用简单的真假判断将孤证封杀在摇篮里。对待孤证,既要坚持“孤证不立”“孤证不举”的学术规范,亦当充分考虑当代文学当代性、现场感,采取“孤证不废”的策略,建立符合当代文学研究实际的史料学态度与方法。

“Uncorroborated evidence being unacceptable”has been a fundamental principle in the modern academia.However,historical materials supporting research in contemporary Chinese literature have unique characteristics.The“Mao-Luo-argument”,the“instruction regarding the Ancient Boat”,the“poems of Baiyang Lake”from Duo Duo,and the issue of“Yao Lu transferring his work appointment”,are all the uncorroborated evidences existing along the history of Chinese literature.Nevertheless,these evidences showed their irreplaceable values for the studies related to the history of Chinese literature by revealing the tips of iceberg and breaking the predicaments where misty historical facts seem impossible to be unpuzzled.They are the first levers of the historical truths.The worth of an uncorroborated evidence lies in the academic discussion between testification and falsification raised by this exact evidence,and the subsequent disclosure of the previously covered historical fact.If being testified,the uncorroborated evidence could provide us with great enlightenments and a possibility to establish a complete chain of evidences;if being falsified,it would motivate people to learn more about historical facts,and opening up a whole new research area.The research on modern Chinese literature should confront uncorroborated evidences and give enough respect as well as liberality,while avoid obliterating uncorroborated evidences just out of simple judgments.To deal with uncorroborated evidences,we certainly need to stick to the research rules like“uncorroborated evidence is unacceptable”.And we also need to take its value into our consideration,admitting its merit and using it strategically.This will help us developing suitable attitude and method toward historical materials in regard of the research of Chinese modern literature.