Classics of Philosophy from Peking University. Selected Works of Liang Shuming.

Author: Chen Lai (Editor-in-Chief) / Liang Shuming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: This book reviews the achievements of these 20th-century philosophical classics, with two points being particularly prominent. , the philosophical research in modern Chinese philosophy is invariably based on Western philosophy and its historical development as a reference background. It is needless to say for scholars who returned from studying abroad in Europe and America. Even for scholars with strong traditional characteristics, such as Liang Shuming and Xiong Shili, their philosophical problem awareness was profoundly influenced by Western philosophical concepts. Western philosophy is an exquisite representation of rational analysis and construction in human wisdom. Although the form of Western philosophy is special, many of its discussions on issues are universal. While the discourse of Western philosophy is not the fundamental stipulation of what constitutes philosophy, it has become the foundation of the modern philosophical discipline. Studying Western philosophy can provide an important method with universal significance for researching other philosophies. In-depth understanding of Western philosophy and other philosophies in the world will promote our deeper understanding of our own philosophical tradition. Second, the creation of modern Chinese philosophical systems must establish a positive connection with the resources of traditional Chinese philosophy. As Chen Yinke said, "I suspect that if China is able to faithfully introduce the thoughts of North America or Eastern Europe in the future, the result will be no different from the Yogacara Buddhism introduced by Xuanzang." It cannot hold a high position in the history of our thoughts and will ultimately perish. Those who can truly achieve systematic thinking and make original contributions must, on the one hand, absorb and introduce external doctrines, and on the other hand, not forget the position of their own nation. These two attitudes that are both contrary and complementary are the true spirit of Taoism, the old path of Neo-Confucianism, and what two thousand years of contact between our nation and other nations' thoughts have revealed." Xiong Shili's New Yi Studies, Liang Shuming's Neo-Confucianism, Feng Youlan's New Rationalism, He Lin's New Mindology, Jin Yulan's New Realism, and Zhang Dainian's New Materialism all consciously connect to classical Chinese philosophy to varying degrees and combine with the practical aspects of Chinese cultural traditions. All the Chinese philosophers who achieved remarkable success in constructing philosophical systems in the 20th century were like this. The selection of this series prioritizes highlighting the philosophical thoughts of these scholars, giving equal weight to famous works and notable essays. The selection aims to differ from existing collections, reflecting the editor's unique perspective and arrangement, thereby making this series not only prominent in highlighting the contributions of these scholars to the creation and research of 20th-century Chinese philosophy but also featuring the unique interpretations of the series' editors. In the past two decades, the academic circles in mainland China have made remarkable achievements in researching contemporary Neo-Confucianism. This research began with China's reform and opening-up. After the doors were opened, scholars from overseas, primarily overseas Chinese scholars, followed by scholars from Hong Kong and Taiwan, came to mainland China to lecture. Subsequently, their papers and works were gradually introduced. Of course, this is only the external factor. The internal reason is that scholars in mainland China reflected on the harm caused by the May Fourth Movement to "Cultural Revolution" to traditional culture and the cultural heritage of our nation, and rethought the relationship between tradition and modernity. Liang Shuming (1893—1988), originally named Huan Ding, styled Shou Ming, was from Guilin, Guangxi, and was born in Beijing. He was a modern Chinese scholar, educator, and advocate of the rural construction movement. He proposed three principles for education: school education and social education are inseparable; education should be extended to adulthood and even lifelong; education should fulfill its role in advancing cultural transformation and social progress. He graduated from Beijing Shuntian Middle School in his early years. Since 1918, he served as a philosophy professor at Peking University. During the May Fourth Movement, he advocated "Life Philosophy." In 1921, he published his famous work "Eastern and Western Cultures and Their Philosophies." In 1928, he took over the management of Guangzhou Middle School to prepare for the establishment of the Rural Governance Institute. During this period, he served as a secretary of the Ministry of Justice of the Nanjing National Government, a member of the Guangzhou Political Committee of the Kuomintang, and the chairman of the Construction Committee of Guangdong Provincial Government. He submitted the "Proposal for Establishing the Rural Governance Institute" and the "Trial Implementation Plan" to the Kuomintang Central Committee and was approved to edit the "Ten Lectures on Rural Governance" for the local gendarmerie in Guangzhou, carrying out "rural construction" activities. In 1929, he founded the "Village Governance Daily" in Beijing. In 1930, he established the Henan Rural Governance College in Huixian, Henan, and the Shandong Rural Governance Research Institute in Zouping, Shandong, publishing "Rural Governance." After the outbreak of the war of resistance against Japan, the rural construction movement was forced to cease. In 1938, he visited Yan'an and had multiple conversations with Mao Zedong. He served as a member of the National Political Council in each term. In 1941, he participated in the establishment of the China Democratic League and went to Hong Kong to preside over the organ "Guangming Daily." By the end of the year, Hong Kong fell, and he moved to Guangxi. In 1945, he served as the Secretary-General of the China Democratic League in Chongqing. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, he served as a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and a Standing Committee member. He passed away in Beijing in June 1988. His works include "An Introduction to Indian Philosophy," "Eastern and Western Cultures and Their Philosophies," "Theories of Rural Construction," "Collected Essays on Education by Liang Shuming," "Essentials of Chinese Culture," and "The Awakening of the Chinese Nation's Self-Salvation Movement."