【作者简介】王燕彬 北京大学社会学系

【文章来源】《社会》2024年第1期

【内容提要】马林诺夫斯基的参与式观察奠定了现代人类学的基本田野方法。但其方法论并非孤立的调查技术，而是植根于系统的文化科学理论。马林诺夫斯基自觉地与社会契约论、社会学年鉴学派等对话，从个体主义与集体主义的争论中汲取思想资源。他主张“函数功能论”，基于马赫的经验批判主义，反对古典人类学和过往社会理论的形而上学预设，指出文化要素之间普遍关联并相互依存。进而，他以“文化契约论”论述文化与社会组织如何基于个体需求而建立。文化被揭示为一个有机整体，个体为文化所塑造，因此社会与个体是紧密联系、相互依存而非分离的实体。这种文化科学的理论与方法也影响了早期中国社会科学的探索。

【关 键 词】马林诺夫斯基, 文化科学, 函数功能论, 文化契约论

【全文链接】https://www.society.shu.edu.cn/CN/Y2024/V44/I1/91

Mathematical Function and Cultural Contract: Malinowski’s Science of Culture

Abstract: Malinowski's participatory observation establishes the basic field method of modern anthropology. But his methodology is not an isolated investigative technique， but a systematic theory of Science of Culture rooted in the context of social theory. Malinowski's works are conscious dialogues with traditions such as social contract theory and the Durkheim school and reveal the resources he draws from the debate between individualism and collectivism. On the one hand， he is influenced by the Durkheim school， but he does not agree with its social substance theory and denies the existence of a collective consciousness beyond the individual. He advocates the functional theory of mathematical function based on Mach's empirical criticism. This theory opposes the metaphysical assumptions in classical anthropology as well as previous sociological theories， and advocates the universal correlation and interdependence of cultural elements. On this basis， Malinowski develops the social contract theory by using the “cultural contract” to construct the history of human beings from a “pre-cultural” state to a cultural state， and presents the layered construction process of cultural and social organizations based on individual needs. Thus， culture is revealed as an organic whole. On the other hand， he overcomes the tendency of contract theory to substantiate individuals and points out that in reality， there is no real “natural person”. Individuals are completely shaped by culture in functional relationships. Therefore， Malinowski emphasizes a mixture of individualism and collectivism， with society and individuals being closely and interdependently related to each other. The theory of cultural science forms the theoretical basis of Malinowski's field method and permeates his fieldwork， and also significantly influences the exploration of early Chinese sociology and anthropology.

Key words: Malinowski, Science of Culture, functional theory of mathematical function, cultural contract theory