Rational pursuit

Author: Feng Jing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-03-01
Features: This book is a collection of the late Yang Yizhi's works compiled by his wife, Feng Jing, this year. It includes 11 political essays from 1934 to 1937, 12 academic papers on philosophical research (including some lecture notes), as well as five or six literary poems and essays. It also features several commemorative articles on Yang Yizhi by authors such as Wang Shuren. At the end of the book is a heartfelt and profound postscript written by Feng Jing at the age of 90.
Yang Yizhi was a renowned expert on Hegel's philosophy in China. His translation of Hegel's Logic—commonly referred to in academia as the "Great Logic"—was a meticulous and uniquely styled work, reflecting his immense effort and insights, which are detailed in the collection now compiled.
Yang Yizhi's research papers, while also reflecting the characteristics of their time, are now read with a focus on the depth and breadth of his academic foundation. His writings often touch on foreign (particularly French) scholars of interest since the 1980s, some of whom remain figures we need to further explore. For example, Merleau-Ponty, a scholar I have long wanted to read, and I know Yang Yizhi was familiar with this material, though I regret not having had the opportunity to consult him in person.
Yang Yizhi's research on Hegel frequently incorporated the perspectives of French scholars, such as the article on Jean Hyppolite included in this collection. This individual's unique interpretation of Hegel has profoundly influenced a generation of contemporary French philosophy, a legacy that should not be forgotten. To understand the work and thought of the older generation of scholars, I recommend this book to young readers.
The book is divided into three parts. Part I, "Political Essays," mainly consists of Yang Yizhi's political essays on anti-imperialism and resistance to Japan, published after his return to China in 1936. Part II, "Philosophical Research," is a compilation of transcripts from Yang Yizhi's lectures on Kant and Hegel for graduate students at universities in various regions and theoretical study groups for Party cadres. Part III, "Literary and Artistic Works," primarily collects some of Yang Yizhi's poems and essays.