雷海宗先生与他的体大精深的历史纲要

Mr. Lei Hai-zong and his great and intensive outline of history

雷海宗先生是中国现代史学史上一位举足轻重的人物,是他那个时代公认的具有真才实学、学贯中西的饱学之士。他在科研与教学中所表现出来的开阔视野、通达思路、严密学风、深厚的历史感、不大识时务的书生气以及大胆质疑和探索的精神,与他早期所受的高级专业训练不无关系。由王敦书先生整理的雷先生的《西洋文化史纲要》一书,是雷先生未曾公开发表过的世界史研究的重要成果,进一步证明雷先生非同凡响的世界史功力。这是一部体大精深的历史纲要,已完成了难度较大的建构工作。假如填充史料的工序能够完成,必定会成为我国世界史研究的里程碑式的著作。可惜《纲要》始终是一份提纲。造成这种缺憾的原因首先是雷先生个人的选择,其次是历史条件的局限。

Mr. Lei Hai-zong is a very important soul in the historiography of modern China, and a recognized great scholar with the genuine scholarship and knowing very well of China and West. His wide perspective, deep insight, strict style of research, sober and profound sense of history, and spirit of academic inquiry and suspect, were related at large to the advanced training in the historical field. An outline of The Western History of Culture by Mr. Lei, has demonstrated his talent in the historical studies. This is a huge and deep survey,and also an unfinished work because of Lei's choice and limit to him of age.