理论缘何衰退?——对理论发生的物质条件及制度因素的考察

外国文学研究 ›› 2021, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (5): 106-116.

理论缘何衰退?——对理论发生的物质条件及制度因素的考察

陈后亮

出版日期:2021-10-25 发布日期:2021-10-28
作者简介:陈后亮,华中科技大学外国语学院教授,主要从事西方文论及英美文学研究。
基金资助:
国家社科基金一般项目“‘后理论'背景下的当代西方文论研究”（18BWW001）

Why Has Theory Run Out of Steam?: A Reflection on Its Material and Institutional Factors

Chen Houliang

Online:2021-10-25 Published:2021-10-28
About author:Chen Houliang is Professor of English at the Department of English, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Wuhan 430074, China), specializing in literary theories and British and American literature. Email: chenhouliang@hust.edu.cn
Supported by:
“Hot Topics in Contemporary Western Literary Theories against the Background of Post-Theory” (18BWW001) sponsored by the National Social Science Fund of China.

摘要/Abstract

内容摘要： 学界已经讨论了很多有关理论兴起的社会政治语境,但高等教育的市场化因素对理论的刺激作用并未受到足够关注。理论的发生和发展与西方学术体制所提供的物质条件有着密不可分的关系,这些条件主要包括既有知识传统、学术惯例、经济状况以及文化氛围等。某些发展看上去像是理论自身内在演变的结果,但也可能更多受到外界制度性因素变化所致。理论的发展并非仅是理论家们的思想接力,它不仅产生在理论家的头脑中,也发生在现实的学术体制之内,受到诸多外部因素的影响。理论的制度化、市场化和过度的技术—职业化趋势是它当下面临的主要挑战。

关键词: 理论的衰退, 学科体制, 社会语境, 制度化

Abstract: There have been a lot of discussions on the socio-political context of the rise of theory, whereas the impact on theory from the market-oriented high education has not garnered enough attention. The inception and development of theory are closely related to the material conditions provided by the Western academia, such as intellectual traditions, academic practices, economic conditions, and cultural atmosphere. Some theoretical developments seem to have been prompted by the internal evolution of a theory itself, but they may also be initiated by external and institutional factors. The development of theory is not simply an ideological relay among theorists because it occurs not only in the minds of theorists, but also in the academic institution in reality under the effect of many external factors. The institutionalization, marketization and overindulgence in technology are the main challenges for theory today.

Key words: the decline of theory, academic institution, social context, institutionalization

陈后亮. 理论缘何衰退?——对理论发生的物质条件及制度因素的考察[J]. 外国文学研究, 2021, 43(5): 106-116.

Chen Houliang. Why Has Theory Run Out of Steam?: A Reflection on Its Material and Institutional Factors[J]. Foreign Literature Studies, 2021, 43(5): 106-116.

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