Abstract:

Hu Shi's methodology of history implied two aspects: technical and spiritual. In the spiritual aspect Hu Shi viewed his methodology of history more from the existence of nations and took his methodology as guides to administer the country and save the nation, as opposed to Dewey who viewed his own methodology of history more from the existence of individuals. Relatively speaking, Hu Shi was more concerned with his methodology in the technical aspect. It implied the methodological principles of essentialism and historicism. It had a close relation with causality and the theory of evolution, and was also influenced by the School of Pu Xue and Zhedong School of Historiography. However, it still had some dieoretical limitations.

Key words: historicism, methodology, the theory of evolution, causality