傳統中國歷史思維中的人文主義

Historical Thinking as Humanistic Thinking in Traditional China

本文旨在論證，傳統中國的歷史思維，即是一種人文或人本主義的思維。對於傳統中國史家來說，「人」是歷史上一切變化的樞紐與核心。從這樣的立場出發，傳統中國的歷史思維，其優點與缺點均根源於人文主義。具有中國文化特色的人文主義，具體表現在歷史思維之中，其特徵之顯著者有如下四端：（一）以人類為中心的歷史解釋；（二）肯定人具有自由意志，能在歷史關頭做出選擇；（三）以史學為治術；（四）忠於事實。本文認為，傳統中國的歷史思維以其強烈的人文性格，或有助於發展出21世紀所需的，更加開放的人文主義。

This article sets out to argue that historical thinking in traditional China is humanistic thinking with Chinese characteristics. Traditional Chinese historical thinking centered upon man as the agent of change in history. Both the strengths and weaknesses of Chinese historical thinking are rooted in this strongly humanistic orientation. Four outstanding features of the Chinese humanism may be observed in the historical thinking in traditional China, viz., (1) anthropocentric explanation/ interpretation of history, (2) affirmation of the free will of man in history, (3) historiography as statecraft and (4) preserving of the factuality. With these strong humanistic impulse, the historical thinking in traditional China is potential of developing a more open-minded new humanism in the 21st century.