从存量文明到增量文明--基于能源基础的环境史研究新尝试

From Stock Civilization to Incremental Civilization:A New Exploration of Environmental History Based on Energy

基于能源的历史变迁可以有效地组织起作为整体史的环境史书写。文章以主导型能源的利用方式及其总量特征的变化为标准,尝试将人类文明的演替理解为从存量文明到增量文明的自觉。在此基础上,不同于麦克尼尔父子将历史发展解释为包含人与环境互动网络在内的人类网络体系的不断编织和扩张,文章进一步将这种关联展开与深化的过程细分为存量意义的交通和增量意义的创造,从而有效地综合能源发展主线和人类网络主线,结构化地勾描出“社会与环境相互内嵌”的环境史核心过程,并据此对人类文明的当前危机和未来图景进行新的历史定位与前瞻。

Based on the historical changes of energy, the writing of Environmental History as the overall history can be effectively organized. We attempt to understand the process of human civilization as twice self-consciousness of Stock Civilization to Incremental Civilization based on the changes in the utilization mode and total quantity characteristics of dominant energy. On this basis, unlike William McNeil and his son’s interpretation of historical development as the continuous weaving and expansion of the human network system, we further subdivide the process into stock interaction and incremental creation. This work can effectively integrate energy development narrative and human network narrative, and structurally outline the core process of environmental history that “society and environment are embedded in each other”. Finally, we will have a new historical positioning and outlook on the current crisis and future prospects of human civilization.