在中国现代思想史上,严复是划时代的人物。这不仅因为他对西学的多方位译介使中国对西方的理解进入了一个全新的阶段,更重要的还在于他所“做”的《天演论》带来了一种新的世界观。在马克思主义发挥实质性影响之前,进化论对中国社会意识的引领地位无可取代。而“进步”这一现代中国重要甚至核心的精神传统,虽然还没有找到它恰当的语词形式〔1〕,但也已包裹在进化论的理论外衣之中,进入了中 In the history of modern Chinese thought, Yan Fu is a landmark figure. This is not only because his multi-directional translation and study of Western learning has brought China’s understanding of the West into a completely new stage, but more importantly, his theory of “Evolution and Ethics” has brought a new worldview. Until Marxism can exert a substantive influence, it is irreplaceable that the theory of evolution leads the Chinese social consciousness. However, the important and even the core spiritual tradition of “progress”, which has not yet found its proper form of words [1], has also been wrapped in the theoretical cloak of evolution and entered