姜静：概念与语境：昆廷﹒斯金纳史学思想研究

——以《近代政治思想的基础》为例

摘要

 作为当代杰出的政治思想史家，昆廷•斯金纳开创的“斯金纳革命”实现了思想史研究的创新：首先是研究对象的革命，斯金纳把一些基本的政治概念作为研究对象和实体来探析和考察，实现了从“观念史”到“概念史”的转换。其次是研究方式的革命，运用“历史语境主义”，认为历史上很多经典著作本身就是特定事件的辩论过程及结果，因此要历史性地理解思想，要深入到具体的历史场景中挖掘文本的真正内涵和意图。这改变了思想史研究的路径，拓展了概念史研究的方法，对学术界产生了极大影响。

　　1978年，斯金纳的代表作《近代政治思想的基础》问世，阐明了现代“国家”概念的形成。他考察了中世纪到近代早期的政治思想的转变，概述了这段时期出现的新观点。他以这种方式重新思考材料，并探索那段时期政治话语的规范性的词汇和意识形态。他认为只有在这些词汇和意识形态中，那些经典文本才能发现其意图与价值。

　　本文通过追溯斯金纳的理论渊源、智识语境和社会语境，探析其内涵，意在阐明斯金纳政治思想史研究的理论和实践，探讨斯金纳及其对当代西方史学理论发展的贡献与影响，剖析其理论得失。斯金纳的思想史研究分为理论和实践两部分。理论可以概括为以下几个关键词：概念史、语境主义、言语行动和意识形态史。实践主要指斯金纳自觉将其理论用于研究的成果——《基础》。

　　概念史理论主要是在斯金纳批驳观念史的基础上建立的，并主要隐含、体现在他的研究实践《基础》一书中。基本概念蕴含了政治史、思想史与社会史的很多信息，是表述和阐释政治史、思想史与社会史的重要载体。斯金纳主张概念即是工具，要了解某个概念，就需要考察与之相关联的所有事物。

　　一般来说，我们在理解文本时存在着两个相互关系密切的问题：文本的意思与著作者的意思，理解了这两个问题，才能真正理解文本。言说者在言说的同时也在行事，行事是通过言说实现的。我们要揭示思想家写作时究竟表达了些什么，就必须首先考察他所处时代的语言游戏与语言惯例。

　　语境主义方法认为，文本是在更广阔的政治情境和话语中产生的，只有把握了这些，才能真正把握思想家创作意图和主旨，才能真正理解思想家的思想及其价值贡献。“语境”既指“语言的语境”，也指“社会与政治的语境”，而“跨文本”则既要研究一流的思想家及其经典文本，也要研究名不见经传的普通人,还要考察当时政治史和社会史等。

　　概念与思想体系尤其是意识形态之间存在着复杂的关系，一个个的概念是构建某一社会思想体系或意识形态的基本要素。斯金纳所频繁使用的“意识形态”一词是个中性术语，意指很多著作者分享共用的任何一套语言实践，目的是检验、辨别用于表述问题和概念等的词汇、标准和假设等。

　　关键词：昆廷﹒斯金纳；概念史；语境主义；《基础》“国家”

Abstract

 As a contemporary outstanding historian of political thought, Quentin Skinner initiates a skinner-style revolution, an innovation in the research of intellectual history. Primary change comes in research subjects. Skinner prioritizes research in basic political concepts, a transition from history of ideas to history of concepts. Another shift happens in research approaches. By historical contextualism, he regards classical texts as the results of continual argument, an innovation that involves historical comprehension of thoughts, and in-depth probe into specific historical scene for the real intentions and meanings of texts. Thisshift in the research methods of intellectual history is influential among academic community.

　　Published in 1978, Skinner’s representative work The Foundation of Modern political thoughtillustrates the evolution of the modern concept of state. He traces the transition of political thoughts from Middle Ages to early modern time, and outlines new ideas during this period. In this way, he further explores the normative words and ideology of political language during that time, and argues that the intentions and the value of these classical texts can only be retrieved through these words and ideology.

　　By tracing the origins, the intellectual context and the social context of Skinner’s theory, this paper attempts to illuminate the theory and practice of Skinner’s research in history of political thought, his contribution to contemporary western historical theory, as well as the gain and loss of the theory,. Skinner’s study in intellectual history consists of two parts: theory and practice. The former can be outlined with some key words: history of concept, speech act, contextualism and history of ideology. The latter refers to the result of his theoretical application: The Foundation of Modern political thought.

　　Based primarily on his criticism of history of ideas, Skinner’s theory of concepts finds expression in The Foundation of Modern political thought. Basic concepts are important carriers of the history of politics, thoughts and society. In understanding a specific concept, overall study of its relevant aspects is essential.

　　Two related questions are significant in understanding texts: literal meaning and intended meaning. Speakers do things with words. To reveal the intended meaning, conventions of language use in the author’s time must be studied.

　　According to contextualism, texts are produced within a broader political and language context. Contexts are essential in understanding the author’s intentions. Context refers to linguistic context, as well as the social and political context. Intertextuality requires the study of top thinkers and their classic texts, as well as ordinary beings, and the politics and society at that time.

　　Complex relationships exist between concepts and ideology. Ideology, with concepts as its basic elements, is frequently used by Skinner, a neutral term that refers a shared set of language practice, which is intended to distinguish words, standards and hypothesis used to express questions and concepts.

　　KEY WORDS: Quentin Skinner; history of concepts; contextualism; The Foundation of Modern political thought