Cultural Philosophy

Author: Yang Shanmin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-10-01
Features: "Culture," as a global topic, has never been as deeply perplexing to humanity or as stirring the entire Chinese intellectual world as it is now. Exploring specific disciplines from the perspective of culture, or using micro-studies to examine the whole of culture, has become an academic trend. Writers hope to rediscover the national soul that urbanites have forgotten or lost in the vast yellow land, while anthropologists and ethnologists are more appreciative of the simple customs and traditions of ethnic minorities. Comparative studies of different cultures, especially Eastern and Western cultures—comparative philosophy, comparative literature, comparative mythology and religious studies, comparative aesthetics, comparative ethics, and comparative political science—are flourishing and attracting significant attention. However, whether it is the vivid descriptions by writers, scattered data from anthropologists, or the piecemeal nature of comparative research, the discussions so far have only addressed a part or aspect of cultural issues. Articles that systematically explore the ontology of culture from the ground up are rarely seen. Undertaking such a daunting task requires courage, as well as clear reasoning and a high degree of abstract generalization. Without a doubt, only by turning to the essence of the human spirit—philosophy—can this challenging work be accomplished.