理论唤魂:审视“现代”的社会科学眼光
作者简介:任剑涛,清华大学政治学系教授(北京 100084)
摘要: 审视“现代”,存在人文科学与社会科学两个基本进路。人文科学不仅与“现代”同时发生或出场,也成为论及“现代”蔚为大观的学术体系。社会科学尤其是社会理论视野中的“现代”,是一种倾向于事实描述、比较分析、总体肯定的进路;社会科学中的实证方法,一方面力图给人们展示一幅真实且准确的现代画面,另一方面则仿照自然科学对现代进行数学化或数字化的描述分析。两者相依而立,分别促成了社会理论与实证研究的大理论与小理论传统。“现代”的实证研究尤其是量化研究的利弊相伴而生。仅就审视“现代”的社会科学眼光来看,需要合理校正与反思超越。藉此,审视“现代”的社会科学眼光,不仅促使社会理论与社会科学视界融合,而且促使社会科学再次与人文科学进路接榫。
Calling the Soul of Theory: The Perspective of Social Sciences Examining “the Modern”
- Available Online:
2023-04-20
Abstract: To examine “the modern”, there are two basic approaches, humanities and social sciences. The humanities not only occur or appear at the same time as “the modern”, but also become an impressive academic system demonstrating “the modern”. The perspective of social sciences especially social theory, which examines “the modern”, is an approach that gives priority to factual description, comparative analysis, and overall affirmation. The empirical method in the social sciences, on the one hand, seeks to show people a true and accurate picture of the modern, and on the other hand, it mimics the natural sciences to provide a mathematical or digital descriptive analysis of the modern. Together, the two contribute to the grand and the micro theoretical traditions of social theory and empirical research, respectively. The pros and cons of empirical research, especially the quantitative research of “the modern”, come out together. The perspective of social sciences alone, which examines the “modern”, needs to be corrected with reason, reflected, and transcended. In this way, this perspective not only promotes the integration of social theory and social scientific vision, but also links up the social sciences and humanities again.