论史学在社会中的位置——为中国史学步入21世纪而作

怎样认识史学在社会中的位置，是历史学中的重要问题之一，具有根本的性质，但近年来多有被人们误解之处。兹事重大，不可轻视。在中国古代史学上，先人们对此有许多精辟论断，反映了他们的卓识和睿智。20世纪的中国史学，在这方面又给我们留下了深刻的启示和严重的教训，需要认真总结。21世纪的中国社会面临着知识经济和经济全球化的机遇与挑战，中国史学亦由此面临着新的形势和抉择：继承中国史学的人本主义思想的优良传统，坚持中国史学的民族特色和民族精神，在唯物史观指导下进行新的创造，实现民族性与世界性的结合和互动，为促进社会历史的进步做出新的贡献。

The Position of Chinese Historiography in Society--To write for Chinese historiography's stepping into the 21th century

How to understand its position in society is one of the essential issues in historiography. In ancient China,much excellent analysis on it had been done. In the 20th century,profound enlightenment and great lessons have been left. Being confronted with opportunity and challenge of the knowledge economy and economic globalization in the next century,Chinese historiography has to meet its new situation and choice,that is to inherit its humanistic tradition,to insist its national features and spirits,to make new creation under the direction of historical materialism,to realize the interaction and combination of nationality and cosmopolitanism,and finally to pay new contribution to the progress of the society.