西方史学思想中的历史想象观念探析//[An Examination of Ideas on Historical Imagination in Western Historiographical Thoughts]

There is a historical process for western historians and thinkers to understand historical imagination.During the Enlightenment period,Kant and Vico's conceptions on deductive logic and poetic wisdom offered two different understandings on imagination,which both influenced the later notions of historical imagination.With the specialization of historiography during the 19 th century,most professional historians saw imagination as something that should be repressed in studying history.However,later thinkers R.G.Collingwood and Hayden White respectively justified the historical imagination from the perspectives of cognition and discourse.They both think that the historical imagination which connects,integrates,and prefigures historical materials cannot be eliminated in historical narrative.The historical imagination is indispensable for historians to explore historical process and understand the meanings of history.The enquiry into historical imagination can possibly prompt us to ponder over a refreshed concept of historical truth not only dominated by facts but also containing ethical and aesthetic dimensions.
西方学界对历史想象的认识经历了一个历史过程。启蒙时期,康德的演绎逻辑和维柯的诗性智慧提供了对想象的两种不同理解,并影响了此后的历史想象观念。随着19世纪史学的专业化,大部分职业史家视想象为历史研究中需抑制的因素。随后,柯林武德和海登·怀特分别在认知和话语层面为历史想象进行了辩护。他们认为,历史叙事无法剔除想象,历史想象在其中发挥着连接、综合或预构史料的作用。历史想象对史家探寻历史过程,理解历史意义不可或缺。有关历史想象的探讨启发我们思考一种不只包含了事实,还可能蕴含着伦理和审美维度的历史真实。