“科学的世纪”与文学的特质——科学与现实主义“求真”之关系考论

“The Century of Science”and the Characteristics of Literature:On the Relationship between Science and Truth-Seeking of Realism

19世纪西方自然科学的巨大成就,改变了这个时代的精神文化气候,导致了文学的重大变革。科学精神和科学理性的渗透,催生了具有“先锋性”的现实主义文学思潮。现实主义把“类比”等科学方法与理念应用于文学创作,不仅使其“求真”特质得以凸显,也使西方文学之“真实性”特征达到了一个历史新刻度;这既表征了现实主义的一种历史贡献,也标示了西方文学的现代性转型。不过,文学毕竟以审美为质的规定性,并以审美的方式实现求真或真实性目标,因此,现实主义之科学化“求真”特质虽有其历史合理性和当代价值,但也有历史性局限与偏狭,这也正是后来现代主义对其诟病与反叛的缘由之一。

Western natural science in the 19th century scores tremendous achievements,changes the spiritual and cultural climate of this era and ushers in revolutionary reforms in literature.The penetration of scientific spirit and scientific reason gives birth to the realistic literary trend of ideology with“avant-garde”feature.Realistic literature applies scientific methods and concepts like analogy method to literary creations,which not only highlights its Truth-seeking characteristic,but also leads the authenticity feature of western literature to reach a new historical scale;this not only manifests a historical contribution of realism,but also marks the modernistic transformation of western literature.However,literature,after all,takes aesthetics as its qualitative regulation,and by aesthetic means reaches the goal of Truth-seeking or authenticity.Therefore,although the scientific Truth-seeking characteristic of realism demonstrates its historical rationality and contemporary value,it also exposes historical limitations and imperfections,which is also one of the reasons why the movement of modernism denounces and rebels against it.