从“反传统”到“再造文明”——“五四”现代性方案再认识

在当前关于现代性的讨论中,“五四”现代性方案受到多种责难。人们指责“五四”把传统与现代性对立起来,对传统资源完全漠视和否弃。其实,在“五四”前期,新文化人之所以把传统与现代对立起来,正是基于作为现代性前提的“进步”观念。到“五四”后期,新文化人已对现代性方案作出修改。他们改变全面反传统的思路,主张在综合中西文化的基础上“再造文明”,其中包含着对中国传统资源的珍视和肯定;同时实际致力于传统资源的开发和利用,尽力为现代性建构寻求传统的支持。

From "Anti-Tradition" to "Reconstruction of Civilizat ion": The May 4th Movement's Modernity Programme Revisited

In current discussions of modernity, variou s criticisms are directed a t the modernity programme of the May 4th Movement (M4M). Some criticize M4M for bringing forth a dichotomy between tradition and modernity and completely neglec ting the resources of Chinese traditions. This paper argues that, in the early p eriod of M4M, the New Cultural Pioneers regarded tradition as conflicting with m odernity because they believed that the "progressive" ideas were a prerequisite of modernity. In the later period, however, they revised their programme and pro posed that "reconstruction of civilization" should be based on a combination of western and Chinese cultures as well as a positive attitude towards the resource s of Chinese traditions. Besides, they made every effort to develop and utilize traditional resources thereby providing traditional support for the construction of modernity.