法国启蒙与革命时代的“自然理性”及其效应——以公制单位“米”的诞生为中心的考察

Natural Reason and Its Effects in France in the Age of Enlightenment and Revolution:A Study Focusing on the Birth of the Metric Unit of Metre

旧制度时代,法国的度量衡纷繁复杂。启蒙时代的科学家和改革派官员尝试从自然中寻找一种理性的、适用于所有人的标准。这个设想在法国革命期间得以落实。作为新体系的核心,公制单位"米"的酝酿和制定展现了启蒙与革命时代在思想观念上的连续性:新长度单位的倡导者们都坚信,源自自然的理性标准可以改良社会和政治生活。法国大革命以其巨大的政治能量推动了这一观念的实现。虽然新体系的人为命名和十进制原则在普及过程中遇到传统习俗的抵制,但经过近两代人的学校教育,法国最终确立了公制度量衡,新体系也因其科学性、普遍性而走向世界。公制单位"米"的产生历程表明,理性主义的努力可以有效克服旧传统的弊端。

Egregious diversity and confusion of measures and weights in France of the Old Regime propelled scientists and reformist administrators to search a rational system which can be applicable to all peoples from the nature.This conception was carried out during the French Revolution.As the principal unit of new measures and weights,the metric system that is the unit of length metre,from its conception to its determination,incarnated an idea which lasted throughout the Age of Enlightenment and Revolution because all the advocates of this new measure believed that the reasonable standard from nature can improve the political and social life.The French Revolution pushed this idea into practice with its huge political dynamic.Because of its artificial and methodic nomenclature,this new decimal system met the resistance of traditional usages in the course of its generalisation.But its definitive implementation was secured in France after the efforts of education in near two generations.Thanks to its advantages,such as scientificity and universality,the metric system began to be recognised across the world.The story of the metric unit of metre demonstrates that the endeavour of reason can effectively overcome abuses of the outmoded tradition.