如何再现纳粹屠杀——海登·怀特的历史相对主义思想辨析

海登·怀特的历史阐释理论虽然是一种相对主义,但他的相对主义是一种有边界的相对主义,这个边界就是他承认历史阐释的相对性要受制于历史事件本身的客观性,以及人类基于是非善恶而形成的道德价值底线。他承认历史事实,进而认为历史事实本身能够限定历史叙事的情节建构模式。可以说,怀特不同于完全否认历史事实存在的极端虚无主义者,也不同于认为对历史事件可以随意阐释、没有限制和底线的绝对的相对主义者。

How to Represent the Holocaust?——Analyses of Hayden White’s Historical Relativism

Hayden White’s theory of Historical interpretation is a kind of relativism,but this historical relativism is the limited relativism.The limit is he admitted that the relativity of historical interpretation limited by the objectivity of historical events and the standards of human ethics.He admitted historical fact,and thought that historical fact itself could limit the modes of emplotment of historical narrative.Therefore,White is different from the extreme nihilist who denies the existence of historical fact,also different from the absolute relativist who consider that historical events can be interpreted freely,without limit and bottom line.