《荀子》积极总结历史经验，强调鉴史价值，评说各种现实社会问题，极其关注制度建设。不把治国寄托于人性之善，而宁可用制度去限制改造人性之恶。《荀子》提出的鉴史观念与方法，如“法后王”、“以近知远”、“详近略远”等对后世史家启迪颇多。《荀子》对《尚书》、《春秋》及孔子的评价，为传统史学长期沿用。《荀子》对“辩说”性质、技巧、方法、误区的探讨，对后世史学批评影响深远。 Xunzi aggressively summed up historical experience, emphasized the value of the history of the study of history, commented on various realities and social issues, and paid close attention to the system construction. Instead of pinning the country with the good of humanity, it is better to use the system to limit the evil of human nature. The conceptions and methods of history study proposed by “Xunzi”, such as “King of Law,” “To know far,” “To be slightly closer,” have a lot to enlighten later historians. Xunzi’s appraisal of Shangshu, Chunqiu and Confucius has long been used by traditional historiography. Xunzi’s discussion of the nature, technique, method and misunderstanding of “argumentation” has a far-reaching impact on the historical criticism of the later ages.