郭嵩焘作为近代中国历史上洋务运动的著名思想家,作为中国第一任驻外公使,无论是在洋务思想,还是在外交思想、外交实践方面,均有一定的成就。但是,在近代史学研究尤其是洋务运动研究中,由于各有侧重不同,评价也出现差异和分歧。偏重于他的主和外交政策及思想的,就会以为郭嵩焘与李鸿章是一丘之貉,是卖国主义、投降主义;或者认为他是地地道道的“买办外交官”;强调他向西方学习,主张仿行西法的,则会认为郭嵩焘是近代中国封建士大夫向西方寻找真理的先进代表人物之一,其思想甚至达到早期维新思想的高度……。然而,在郭嵩焘的思想脉络里,效法西方、学习西方的洋务思想与他的以理待夷、主和通商的外交思想是紧密联系的。要全面评价郭嵩焘及其思想、揭示其思想的内在矛盾特征,应对他思想中的这两个方 As a famous thinker of the Westernization Movement in modern Chinese history, Guo Songtao, as China’s first foreign minister, has made some achievements both in his Westernization thinking and in his diplomatic and diplomatic practices. However, in the study of modern history, especially in the Westernization Movement, there are differences and differences in evaluation due to their different emphases. By focusing on his master and diplomatic policies and thoughts, he would think that Guo Songtao and Li Hung-chang were militarists, secessionists, capitulators, or “comprador diplomats” who were genuinely offended. He stressed that he should learn from the West and advocate imitation In the case of Xifa, Guo Songtao is one of the advanced representatives of the modern Chinese feudal doctor who sought the truth from the West. His thought even reached the height of early rejuvenation ideas. However, in the thinking of Guo Songtao, the Westernization thinking of Western learning and the Western ideas of the Western countries are closely linked with his diplomatic thinking of treating the barbarians, the Lord, and businessmen. To comprehensively appraise Guo Songtao and his thoughts and reveal the intrinsic contradictions of his thoughts, we should deal with the two sides