从“立国”到“立人”:胡适国民性改造思想的演变及当代启示

From“Gaining Nationhood”to“Cultivating Human Beings”:Evolution of Hu Shi’s Thought on the Reform of National Character and Its Contemporary Implication

“立国”与“立人”是近代国民性改造思想内核的双壁。早年上海求学时期,胡适以“立国”为核心,强调通过教育等“改造个人”的途径,培养出具有现代国家意识的国民。留美及归国后,则以“立人”为核心,倡导个性解放,他试图通过“改造个人”与“改造社会”相结合的途径,造就一代具有健全独立人格的现代人。胡适国民性改造思想的演变在今天具有重要启示,在“立什么样的现代人”上,须反思虚假集体主义和极端个人主义道德原则,树立健全独立现代人的目的追求;在“怎样立现代人”上,既要倡导个人启蒙,以人的现代化推进国家现代化,又要重视制度育人,以国家现代化促进人的现代化。

“Gaining nationhood”and“cultivating human beings”are the dual kernels of the thought on the reform of national character in modern China.When studying in Shanghai in his early years,Hu Shi put emphasis on cultivating citizens with modern national consciousness through education and other means of“personal reform,”so as to rescue the national crisis.After studying in the United States,he returned to China.Focusing on“cultivating human beings,”he advocated individual liberation,and tried to bring up a generation of modern people with sound independent personality by combining“personal reform”with“social reform.”The evolution of Hu Shi’s thought on the reform of national character has great reference value today.On“what type of modern people to cultivate,”we should reflect on the moral principles of false collectivism and extreme individualism to bring up independent modern people with healthy personality.On“how to cultivate modern people,”we should not only advocate individual enlightenment and promote the modernization of the state with the modernization of the people,but also attach importance to the educational function of the institution and promote the modernization of the people with the modernization of the state.