马修.阿诺德是位颇受争议的文学批评家。这大概与人们认为其理论自身存在悖论有关。一方面,他主张文学批评一定要保持超然无执的健全理智,和实践保持距离。与此同时,他又提倡文学批评乃是人生的批评,即文学批评最终的目的在于指导人生。他主张文学创作须产生最好的思想,文学批评应指出作品之中最好的思想,从而指导人生。以上两种截然不同的说法极易引起人们争议。文章指出:二者表面看来确显矛盾,但究其实质却相通。阿诺德提出“超然无执”的批评原则是有针对性的。“超然无执”与“人生的批评”之间无本质冲突,确切地讲二者乃手段与目的关系,即为了更好地为人生指明方向必须本着“超然无执”的态度进行文学批评。国内评论家多将以上两点作为对立面来看待,实乃是受了中国具体政治、历史、文化和社会环境的影响。今日重温阿氏在英国向现代社会转型时期所提出的重大问题以及他在阐述自身观点时所表现的广阔文化视野与深厚文化底蕴,对我国的思想文化建设仍大有裨益。 Matthew Arnold is a controversial literary critic. This is probably related to the paradox that people think their theory itself. On the one hand, he advocated that literary criticism must maintain a perfect sense of incompetence and keep a distance from practice. At the same time, he also advocated literary criticism as a critique of life, that is, the ultimate goal of literary criticism is to guide life. He advocated that literary creation must produce the best ideas, and literary criticism should point out the best ideas in the works so as to guide life. These two completely different opinions can easily arouse controversy. The article points out: The two apparently contradictory appearances, but their essence is similar. Arnold proposed “detached no ” criticism principle is targeted. There is no essential conflict between “detached execution” and “criticism of life”. To put it in concrete terms, the two are means and purposes, that is, in order to better direct the direction of life, "Attitude of literary criticism. Many domestic critics regard the above two points as the antithesis. The reality is influenced by the specific political, historical, cultural and social conditions in China. Today’s review of the major issues raised by Abraham during the transition to modern society in the United Kingdom and the broad cultural perspective and profound cultural connotations he expressed in elaborating his own point of view are still of great benefit to the ideological and cultural construction in our country.