Scientific nature of the literary theory: effectivity and limit——A discussion with Dr. Ma Jianhui

Since there lies some substantial dispute over science and scientific nature, people may take it for granted that the empirical pursuit of truth value and norms is the so-called scientific spirit in the 18th and 19th centuries. Literary theory is scientific by nature in that it is not only seeking truth, objectivity, and logic abstractness, but it embodies the nature of science as well. Furthermore, literary theory is so closely related to modern science and the western rationalistic culture that the scientific nature of literary theory deserves a proper exploration in perspectives of effectivity and limit. Likewise, we ought to keep alert not to fall in the cultural trap of modernity and humanity in Europe or the States.