魏源研究与评价的反思

魏源编著《海国图志》 ,提出“师夷长技以制夷”的主张 ,固然是比较符合现代人需要的一种“主张” ,但现代魏源研究者忘记魏源所处的时代历史的发展可能具有的多种可能性 ,不当地夸大其在当时所具的“绝对”重要性与对后世的重大影响 ,而强烈谴责讽剌那些反对向西方学习的传统士大夫 ,这种“先验预设”的方式很难使魏源研究与评价能实事求是。

Reflections on Weiyuan Study and Assessment

Weiyuan's work "Haiguo Tuzhi" raises the point of "confront the aggressor with the skill learnt from the aggressor", which is a point fitting the needs of modern people. However, contemporary researchers of Weiyuan forgot the multiple possibilities of historical development in the era when Weiyuan lives, exaggerated inappropriately his absolute importance and the grave impact to the time thereafter, and strongly condemned those who learn from the west. These methods of "pre-assumption" can hardly seek truth from the fact on the matter of Weiyuan study and assessment.