“现代西方哲学”的名称英译及探究

1、 针对“现代西方哲学”一词的英译作简略探究，并简要追述现代西方哲学在中国的传播历程，依据其发展脉络对西方哲学的“现代”概念予以理论上的廓清并提出该名称的译法。笔者在阅读现代西方哲学及其相关著作时发现，“现代西方哲学”的名称英译内涵丰富，不能仅凭字面理解，需要对现代西方哲学的发展历程以及在我国传播的历史做认真探究之后方能有正确的结论。“哲学”一词的英文对应词是“philosophy”。毫无疑问，“现代西方”的对应英译为“Modern Western”，从翻译学的视角看，按照直译原则肯定是没有问题。问题是译成“Modern Western Philosophy”，国内读者的理解会明白无误，但如果同

2、国外的同行或学者进行交流，他们是否会首肯或赞许呢？这里就直接涉及到西方哲学史的发展及时间概念的划分问题。实际上，西方人所指的modern philosophy 并不等于国内普遍所说的“现代哲学”。modern philosophy 这一类课程的内容涉及的是17至19世纪的哲学，1相当于国内表述的西方近代哲学。英语中找不到与“近代”相对应的词，early modern（现代前期）这一词组接近汉语中“近代”含义。我国所说的“现代”大约与英语中“later modern”（现代后期）相近。但是西方学者们不大用“现代后期哲学”这一说法，而更倾向于采用“Contemporary Philosophy”（

3、当代哲学）作为学科名称。而Contemporary Philosophy涵盖的内容都是关于20世纪的哲学。这在外国人是很自然的事。英语“contemporary”的原义为“同时代的，当代的”。当代哲学涉及到生活在20世纪至21世纪的哲学家的学术成果。当代哲学即20-21世纪哲学。然而这种时间概念却难以让中国人接受。我们所说的“当代”只是指20世纪的后半叶，“现代”大约指20世纪的全部。“现代”这一时间概念在有的学科里比20世纪稍长一些，在有的学科里稍短一些。一、现代西方哲学在中国的传播中国人所研究的现代西方哲学的时间跨度比20世纪长。把西方哲学最早传入中国的最有影响的著作应该说是严复（1845

4、-1921）翻译的天演论等，其进化论思想影响了中国几代人的哲学观念，可以说，他是把西方哲学介绍到中国来的第一功臣。2近现代西方哲学的学科研究在20世纪的中国大体经历了四个时期。2第一个时期，自19世纪末到20世纪20年代中期，这是西方哲学学科研究在中国的创立期，也是中国人对于西方哲学学术研究的起步期。传播者多为社会变革的政治领袖，如康有为、梁启超、章太炎与蔡元培等。“哲学”这个新名词于1920年在梁启超主办的新民丛报上出现。1914年北京大学将1911年成立的“理学门”更名为“哲学门”。1917年正式改名为“哲学系”。到1919年，北京大学的哲学系还成立了哲学研究所。第二个时期，自20世纪20

5、年代末至40年代末，即“后五四”时期。这是西方哲学在中国学科建设与学术研究取得重大进展时期。第三个时期，从1949年至70年代末，这是西方哲学学科建设与学术研究在中国的曲折时期。第四个时期，自20世纪70年代末以来，是对西方哲学的学科建设和学术研究的一个再发展并走向全面繁荣时期。现在所说的现代西方哲学开始于黑格尔和费尔巴哈之后，即从19世纪后期一直到现在的西方哲学；20世纪西方哲学是其中最长的一段，但不是现代西方哲学的全部。现代西方哲学是19世纪中叶以来主要流行于西方资本主义国家的各种哲学流派的总称。一般指黑格尔之后至今的西方哲学。它的特点是新流派众多、思想方式变化深刻、与现代科技与人文众学科

6、的关系密切、对中国的现实思潮影响巨大，与未来哲学的发展息息相关。二、黑格尔之后的西方哲学演变黑格尔哲学是19世纪德国资产阶级的世界观体系。它集德国古典哲学之大成，创立了一个完整的客观唯心主义哲学体系，具有百科全书式的丰富性，居于整个资产阶级哲学的高峰。但是，在他的唯心主义哲学体系中，提出了有价值的辩证法思想，认为整个自然的、历史的和精神的世界是一个过程，是在不断地运动、变化和发展着的，而其内部矛盾乃是发展的源泉。马克思、恩格斯批判地继承了黑格尔辩证法的合理内核，创立了唯物辩证法。自黑格尔之后，出现了唯意志主义、实证主义、新康德主义、直觉主义、分析哲学、现象学、存在主义、解释学、西方马克思主义、

7、实用主义、结构主义、解构主义等新流派。它们带来了西方哲学两千年来最为深刻的思想方式变革：反形而上学、反基础主义、向语言的转向、对境域的关注等，令人耳目一新，极大地丰富了人的哲学思维。这种变化使得现代西方哲学具有了很强的向其他学科渗透、与之交叉的能力以及建立新的次级学科的能力，比如科学哲学、语言哲学等。现代西方哲学与科学技术、人文学科、社会科学学科和文学艺术实践之间形成了更为密切的互动关系。而且，由于思想方式的转变，相比于传统西方哲学，现代西方哲学与中国哲学有了近距离的接触和深入对话的可能。三、现代西方哲学的几个发展阶段现代西方哲学是西方传统哲学的继续和发展。古希腊哲学、中世纪的经院哲学、171

8、8世纪的理性论和经验论以及德国古典哲学等，都对现代西方哲学的不同流派发生了重大影响。传统哲学中的认识论、本体论、伦理学等方面的问题，仍然是现代西方哲学所讨论和研究的重点。现代西方哲学的历史发展和演变，从时间上看，大致可分为以下三个时期。31.19世纪40年代到19世纪末这个时期是自由资本主义发展的晚期。在现代西方哲学中出现了许多流派，如唯意志论、生命哲学、实证主义、马赫主义、新康德主义、新黑格尔主义等。它们对20世纪西方哲学的发展产生了重大影响。2.19世纪末到第二次世界大战这个时期，西方流行的主要哲学流派有新实在论、实用主义、人格主义、逻辑原子论、逻辑实证主义、现象学和存在主义。新实在论形成

9、于20世纪初，它在奥地利以F.布伦塔诺（18381917）、A.迈农为代表，在英国以G.E.摩尔、罗素、A.N.怀特海、S.亚历山大等人为代表，在美国则以R.B.佩里、W.P.蒙塔古等人为代表。此外，以G.桑塔雅那等人为代表的批判实在论，以R.W.塞拉斯等人为代表的自然主义，在20世纪前40年内相继流行于美国。但这一时期在美国哲学中影响最大的则是实用主义。实用主义形成于19世纪末，20世纪上半叶在美国哲学界一直居于主导地位，其主要代表是C.S.皮尔士、W.詹姆斯和J.杜威以及英国的F.C.S.席勒。实用主义者的基本特征是把经验当作世界的基础，强调行动和效果，反对真理的符合论。3.第二次世界大战

10、以后这个时期，英美国家流行的主要是分析哲学的各个支派，在欧洲大陆国家主要有存在主义、新托马斯主义、结构主义、现象学和解释学。现代西方哲学的不同流派和不同哲学家，都重视并深入研究知识和真理、自然和人、语言和意义等问题。他们通过对这些问题的探讨，阐明自己的观点。通过对这些问题的叙述也可以看出现代西方哲学发展的新动向。四、结论对于中西方学者来说，“当代”或“20世纪”、“21世纪”都只是时间性概念，“现代”则是一个表示社会与文化变迁的理论性概念，它与“传统”相对应。那么，如何确立“传统”与“现代”的界限呢？实际上，它不仅仅是一个时间性的问题，而涉及到文化和思想史的发展分期。西方的现代化进程始于17世

11、纪，因此，他们把17世纪以来的哲学当作现代哲学。而中国人对这种“现代”概念似乎难以接受。中国学者的理解是，17世纪至19世纪前期的哲学（即我们所指近代西方哲学）是一个新的传统。我们所指的西方现代哲学，既与17世纪以前的老传统又与17世纪以后新的哲学传统相分别的哲学。4在西方哲学简史一书中，西方哲学的发展在黑格尔哲学中达到巅峰，黑格尔建立了历史上最庞大而全面的哲学体系，包括了哲学史上全部范畴和大部分重要哲学命题，来解释思想、自然界和社会的一切现象。然而，这一庞大体系在黑格尔去世后不久便崩溃了。黑格尔哲学体系的崩溃标志着西方传统哲学的终结。之后，西方哲学的发展进入了一个全新的阶段，即现代哲学阶段。

12、“现代西方哲学”这一概念是相对于“传统哲学”而言，它指的是黑格尔之后的西方哲学。因此“西方现代哲学”的中文含义既不能被翻译成ModernWestern Philosophy，又不能译为Contemporary Western Philosophy或20th Century Western Philosophy，分析西方哲学发展史的实际情形应译成Western Philosophy after Hegel（黑格尔之后的西方哲学）。For the English translation of the word modern western philosophy a brief to explore

13、, and briefly recalled the spread of modern western philosophy in China, according to the development of modem concept of western philosophy theory of clearing and translation of the name is put forward.The author in the reading of modern western philosophy and the related work found that the modern

14、 western philosophy connotation is rich, the name of the translation dont literally, need for the development of modern western philosophy and history of spread in China can have a correct conclusion after do take seriously. The word philosophy of the corresponding word in English is point. There is

15、 no doubt that corresponding English translation for Modern Western Modern Western, from the perspective of the translation, in accordance with the principle of literal translation is certainly no problem. Problem is translated into Modern Western Philosophy, the domestic readers understanding will

16、be clear, but if you communicate with foreign counterparts or scholars, whether they will nod or approval? Here is directly involved in the development of western philosophy and the division of time concept.In fact, referred to in western modern philosophy is not the same as the domestic common says

17、 modern philosophy. Modern philosophy of this kind of course content involves the philosophy of the 17 to 19 century, 1 of expression of domestic modern western philosophy. In English, cant find the corresponding to the modern word, early modern early (modern) modern in this phrase is close to Chine

18、se meaning. Calls a modern in our country about the English later modern late (modern). But the western scholars have not used the term late modern Philosophy, and more inclined to adopt I point (modern Philosophy) as the subject name. While I point covers are about the content of the Philosophy in

19、the 20th century. The foreigner is very natural thing. English I of the original meaning of contemporary, contemporary. Contemporary philosophy comes to life in the 20th century to the 21st century philosophers academic achievements. Contemporary philosophy is 20 - philosophy in the 21st century. Ho

20、wever the concept of time is difficult to let the Chinese to accept. What we call contemporary is refers to the latter part of the 20th century, modern refers to all of the 20th century. This concept of modern slightly longer than 20 century in some disciplines, a little short in some disciplines.A,

21、 the spread of modern western philosophy in ChinaIn the research of the Chinese modern time span is longer than the 20th century western philosophy. Introduced into China as early as the western philosophy of the most influential works it should be said that yan fu (1845-1921), the translation of th

22、e theory of natural selection, etc., the theory of evolution thought influence on generations of Chinese philosophy, can say, he is introducing western philosophy to come to China first. 2 discipline research of contemporary and modern western philosophy in the 20th century China generally experienc

23、ed four periods. 2, the first period since the end of the 19th century to the mid - 1920 - s, this is the early stage of western philosophy discipline research in China, also is the Chinese to western philosophy starting period of academic research. Communicator is social change more political leade

24、rs, such as kang youwei, liang qichao, zhang binglin, and CAI yuanpei, etc. The new word philosophy in 1920 in xinmin plexus news of liang qichaos host. Peking University will be set up in 1911, 1914 neo-confucianism renamed philosophy. In 1917, officially changed its name to philosophy. By 1919, th

25、e philosophy department of Beijing university has established the institute of philosophy. The second period, since the late 1920 s and 40 s, namely after the May 4th period. This is a western philosophy discipline construction and major progress was made in academic research in China. The third per

26、iod, from 1949 to the end of the 1949 s, the western philosophy discipline construction and academic research in China is tortuous. The fourth period, since the late 1970 s, is the discipline construction and academic research of western philosophy of a fully to develop and to boom. Now call the mod

27、ern western philosophy started from Hegel and feuerbach, namely from the late 19th century to the present western philosophy; In the 20th century western philosophy is one of the longest period, but not all of modern western philosophy. Modern western philosophy is mainly popular in the west since t

28、he middle of the 19th century the floorboard of the various philosophical schools of capitalist countries. Since the western philosophy after generally refers to Hegel. It is characteristic of many new schools, deep thought way change, and the modern science and technology and humanities closely rel

29、ated to the subject of ideological trend has had a huge impact, to Chinas reality, is closely related to the development of philosophy in the future.Second, after Hegel, the evolution of western philosophyHegels philosophy is a 19 th-century German bourgeois world outlook system. It combines German

30、classical philosophy, set up a complete system of objective idealism philosophy, have encyclopedic richness, in the peak of the entire bourgeois philosophy. But, in his idealism philosophy system, put forward the valuable thought of dialectics, think the natural, historical and spiritual world is a

31、process, is in constant motion, change and development, and its internal contradiction is the source of development. Marx and Engels critically inherited the rational kernel of Hegelian dialectics founded the materialist dialectics.After Hegel, the libertarian, positivism, new kantianism, intuitioni

32、st, analytical philosophy, phenomenology, existentialism and hermeneutics, western marxism, pragmatism, structuralism, deconstruction and other new genres. They brought the two thousand western philosophy to the most profound thought way change: against metaphysics, foundation, to turning, concerned

33、 about the realm of language, refreshing, greatly enriched peoples philosophical thinking. This change makes the modern western philosophy has the very strong penetration, to other disciplines and cross of ability and the ability to set up new secondary discipline, such as the philosophy of science,

34、 philosophy of language, etc. Modern western philosophy and science and technology, humanities, social sciences, and formed a closer interaction between literature and art practice. Moreover, due to change the way of thinking, compared with the traditional western philosophy, modern western philosop

35、hy and Chinese philosophy has close contact and dialogue.Third, several stages of development of modern western philosophyModern western philosophy is the continuation and development of traditional western philosophy. Ancient Greek philosophy, medieval scholasticism, 17 18 th-century rational theor

36、y and empiricism and German classical philosophy, have taken place in all the different schools of modern western philosophy. Epistemology and ontology of traditional philosophy, ethics and other issues, is still the focus of the discussion and the research by modern western philosophy. The history

37、of the development and evolution of modern western philosophy, from the time, the can be roughly divided into the following three periods. 31.19 the 40 s to the end of the 19th centuryThis period is late in the development of liberal capitalism. Many schools in modern western philosophy, such as vol

38、untarism, life philosophy, positivism, machism, new kantianism, new hegelism and so on. On the development of the 20th century western philosophy has a significant effect.2.19 end of the 19th century to the second world warThis time, the main philosophy in the western pop genre has a new realism and

39、 pragmatism, personalism, logical atomism, logical positivism, and phenomenology, and existentialism.New realism formed in the early 20th century, it in Austria to f. boulogne tano (1838 1917), a. Michael shannon, in the UK with G.E. Moore, Russell, A.N. whitehead, s. representative, Alexander in th

40、e United States to R.B. representative. Perry, montague w.p. In addition to g. representative of Santa and the critical realism, R.W. representative of naturalism, Silas in the 20th century, 40 years ago have been popular in the United States. But this time the biggest i

41、nfluence in American philosophy of pragmatism.Pragmatism is formed at the end of the 19th century, half of the 20th century philosophy has been in the leading position in the United States, its main representative is c. s. peirce, w. James and j. Dewey and British F.C.S. Schiller. The basic characte

42、ristics of pragmatism is the basis of the experience as a world, emphasizing the action and effects, against conforms to the theory of truth.3. After the second world warThis time, British and American national popular mainly analysis the various tribes of philosophy, in the main continental Europea

43、n countries are existentialism, new Thomas, structuralism, phenomenology and hermeneutics.Different schools of modern western philosophy and different philosopher, attention and in-depth study of knowledge and truth, nature and human, language and meaning. Through study on these problems, to clarify

44、 their point of view. Through the account of these problems can also see that the new trend of modern western philosophy development.Four, conclusionFor Chinese and western scholars, contemporary or in the 20th century, is timeliness concept of 21st century, modern is a social and cultural changes o

45、f theoretical concept, which correspond to traditional. So, how to establish the boundaries of traditional and modern? In fact, it is not just a question of timing, which involves the development stages of culture and ideology. Western modernization began in the 17th century, therefore, they put the philosophy as a modern philosophy since the 17th century. And the Chinese for this kind of modem concept seems to be hard to accept. Chinese scholars understandi