论比较原理与比较思想史

比较原理是理解一切比较活动的基础,也是比较思想史方法论的基础.比较原理是一个有待专门探讨的普遍问题.第一种意义的比较,就是树立反绝对化的态度、信念和方法.第一种意义的比较用到比较思想史研究领域,一方面是要打破各种中心主义观、绝对主义观,另一方面,是要在相对、平等和开放的原则下探讨各国各种思想文化形态.第二种比较是寻求特质的认知,通常人们将这种比较理解为辨析同异,我们姑且把它叫做特质比较.这个意义上的比较和类比有一定的相通性.这种比较用到比较思想史上有利于区分思想的社会历史原因、形态和类型.第三种比较是找关系,也就是说在关系的视野中看问题,或者说是通过比较揭示与建构多种思想对象的关系之网.用到思想史比较研究中,是要通过比较建立系统的、复杂的思想关系网络.将比较关系和比较思维带入思想史研究,必然的结论就是要树立世界思想史①的目标,或者说比较思想史的根本目的就是为了重建世界思想史.

On Comparative Principles and the Studies of Comparative History of Ideas

The principles of comparison are the basis of all comparative inquiries, as well as the methodology of comparative history of ideas. The first meaning of comparison means to struggle against absolute views of values, beliefs and methods. Applying to the field of history of ideas, it means, one hand, to break through all kinds of prejudices of self centrality and absolutism, and the other hand, to equally treat for various forms of ideological culture in the history of world. The second form of comparison is for qualities of things, we might call it a character comparison. Usually one regards it as differentiate similarities and dissimilarities. According, we can recognize the forms and kinds of different systems of thought. Third, a relationship comparison is to reveal and organize a web of relations of objects. It means to establish a net of ideas and systems of thought. Bringing the methods of comparison and comparative thinking into the domain of comparative studies of ideas, the conclusion is to restructure a worldwide history of ideas.