廣義而言，「閱讀理論」(theory of reading)係指有關文本理解的各種論說；在史學上，即是對史料或其所再現的歷史的解讀。狹義而言，則僅包含後現代特殊的解讀觀點，尤其是以讀者為中心的「閱讀理論」(reading theory)。其中以巴特(Barthes)與德希達(Derrida)最具代表性。他們的論點在西方的文學批評與文化研究均掀起極大的波浪，而晚近不少史學論爭也與他們的基本觀點脫不了關聯。本文則先以傳統的歷史理解為參照，再取巴特為論述核心，輔之德希達，試圖檢討其主要論點與史學研究的過從，最後並評述其功過得失。

The “theory of reading,” broadly speaking, is concerns with the discourse of understanding texts. In historiography, it deals with the decoding of documents and the history they represent. But currently it usually refers to the specific ways of reading raised by postmodernists. Among these, Barthes and Derrida, whose doctrines have already exerted tremendous impact upon literary criticism and cultural studies in the West, stand out the most important. Recently, their influence has extended to historical studies as well and provoked a number of heated debates between modern and postmodern historians. This essay begins by providing a perspective from which we can see the emergence of historical hermeneutics. This perspective also provides a contrast with postmodernists' reading theory. Finally, the essay assesses the merits and demerits of postmodernist ways of reading when applied to the field of history.

閱讀理論、後結構主義、蘭克、巴特、德希達

reading theory; post-structuralism; Ranke; Barthes; Derrida