从对象的“历史”到方法的“历史”:社会科学研究“历史转向”的实践思考

From the"History"as the Object to the"History"as a Method:Practical Thinking of"Historical Turn"in Social Science Research

“历史转向”作为当下社会科学的一种发展取向,实际是社会科学研究重新走入历史,既有现实需要又面临实践挑战。从以“历史”为对象到以“历史”为方法是必由之路。以历史为对象即所谓“对象”的“历史”,具有“借助”和“研究”两重内涵,对社会科学研究的转向实践显现了不同程度、不同层次和不同成果品相的意义。以历史为方法即所谓“方法”的“历史”,具有操作方法和思维方法的两重内涵,对社会科学研究的转向实践则显现了操作技术和思考技术统一的方法论意义。“历史”作为人文社会科学第一层次的方法,是人类自我思考和认识的一种基本形式和主要途径。作为对人类社会各个领域历史性存在的系统性认识,社会科学的知识生产必须历史地思考、历史地理解和解释。以历史为方法才能真正实现历史和理论的结合,建构科学性和历史性相统一的社会科学。

As a development trend,"historical turn"actually means that social science research is stepping into the field of history again.This turn has both its realistic needs and its practical chal-lenges.To consider"history"as a method instead of an object is the path we must take.To consid-er history as an object,that is,the"history"of the so-called"object",has connotations of both"helping"and"researching",It shows the significance in different degrees,different levels,and different results in the"historical turn"practice of social science research.To consider history as a method,that is,the"history"of the so-called"method",has connotations of both operational techniques and thinking methods.It shows the significance in methodological unification of opera-tional techniques and thinking methods in the"historical turn"practice of social science re-search.History is the first layer of approach to humanities and social sciences,and it is a basic form and main path of self-reflection and self-cognition.As a systematic understanding of the historical existence in all fields of human society,the knowledge production of social sciences must be consid-ered,understood,and explained historically.In using history as a method,we can truly achieve the combination of both history and theory,and the construction of a social science that well combines sciencewith history.