严复与何启──两位留英学生近代化思想模式的探讨

Yan Fu and He Qi: A Study of the Approaches to Modernization of Two Students Who Studied in England

严复、何启二人 ,先后在 1 9世纪 70年代留学英国 ,留学的时间几乎同时。严复留学时间颇短 ,而何启时间较长 ,但似乎并无机会碰面。前者习海军 ,后者习医学及法律。回国后 ,二人有不同的事业发展。何启以香港为基地 ,施展其所学之长 ,服务香港社会 ,成为一位重要的华人领袖 ,对香港的民政建设 ,建树良多。严复毕生从事教育工作 ,并积极介绍西方的学术思想 ,成为近代中国最重要的启蒙思想家之一。他们二人有关中国近代化的改革蓝图 ,从提倡的初始即出现不同的取径 ,从而显示两种不同的近代化模式。严复认为英国的盛强 ,不在其船坚炮利 ,而在其学术之至真和风俗之至善 ,他深受斯宾塞学术思想的影响 ,视民质的提升为强国的根基 ,以自由主义的学术思想启蒙国人。力倡开民智、新民德、鼓民力 ,用渐进的方式使中国社会迈向文明进步 ,最终成功近代化。何启熟悉英国的政情 ,深叹其政制之美 ,视英国的强盛与进步之基乃其政治上的公平、自由和民主。力主中国应修明内政 ,引进英国各项先进的政经制度以为改革的张本 ,期望清廷通过政制的全面革新来实现近代化的目标。严复以西学来改造中国 ,取态是温和而缓进的 ;何启以西政来革新中国 ,取态是迅猛而急进的。

Yan Fu and He Qi both studied in England in the 1870s around the same time. Yan stayed for quite a short period and He was there about 10 years, but it seems that they never had a chance to meet in England. Yan studied the navy, while He studied medicine and law. When they returned home, they had different careers. He Qi was based in Hong Kong, and making use of what he learned to serve the society, became an important Chinese leader, and contributed a lot to the development of Hong Kong's government. Yan Fu devoted his life to working in education. Yan introduced Western learning into China, and became one of the most significant enlightenment thinkers in modern China. When they made their proposals for reform for China, Yan and He embarked on different paths from the very beginning, each supporting two different models for modernization. Yan believed that England was strong not because of its naval power, but because of its achievements in learning and the merits of its social customs. Deeply influenced by Herbert Spencer, Yan believed that uplifting the national spirit was the foundation of a nation's strength. Therefore, Yan tried to enlighten his people with the ideas of liberalism. Yan advocated gradual reforms to transform Chinese society and to achieve successful modernization, with an emphasis on improving the intellectual, physical and moral capacities of the people. He Qi had a good knowledge of British politics and marveled at the beauty of the British political system. He thought that the basis for England's strength and advancement was the fairness, freedom and democracy of its politics. He Qi stressed that China should reform its political system, drawing on England's political and economic systems as a model. He Qi hoped that the Qing Court could achieve its goal of modernization through extensive changes in its political system. Yan Fu hoped to use Western learning to reform China; his methods were moderate and gradual. He Qi hoped to use Western politics to revitalize China; he was inclined toward swift and decisive changes.