文明的起源和救赎——汤因比历史哲学的方法论基础

Origin and Redemption of Civilization; the Methodological Foundation of Toynbee's Historical Philosophy

历史研究的对象(单位)不是民族(国家),也不是时代,而是社会(文明)。在历史的横断面里,共存在着二十一种文明。通过“挑战和应战”、“退隐和复出”,汤因比指出文明的生长在于它内部的精神自决,并基于少数人的创造活动.历史研究的根本在于探究隐藏在历史现象背后我们无以直面的东西,这就是某种方法论意义上的“神”.并进而认为道德和宗教是每一种文明的基础。

Toynbee pointed out that there once existed twenty-one kinds of civilizations in history, and the fundamental purpose of historical study was to probe into something that hide behind historical phenomenon. Ethic and religion were the basis of each kind of civilization.