Towards Coexistence

Author: Hu Shoujun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-06-01
Features: What is a "planner"? It is a person living in a planned society. Only by occupying an advantageous position within the planning system can a planner optimize their own state of existence. Therefore, striving to secure an advantageous position is the fundamental behavioral pattern of a planner. What is a "market person"? It is a person living in a market society. Only by succeeding in market competition can a market person improve their state of existence. Therefore, seeking opportunities and actively competing are the fundamental behavioral patterns of a market person.
The term "public intellectual," often prefixed with "public," is increasingly used to refer to scholars who frequently appear in mass media. Professor Hu Shoujun has been a guest on various media programs more than thirty times, but whether he qualifies as a "public intellectual" remains uncertain. However, his nearly acute and eager concern for real-world issues, along with his sharp and insightful analyses, makes it more reasonable to classify him as a "public intellectual." This can be glimpsed in his new book, Towards Coexistence.
First, he thinks independently and uniquely, approaching social "big problems" from multiple angles. As a sociologist, Hu Shoujun naturally pays more attention to the transitional Chinese society and its characteristics, such as issues of power economics and social democracy. Particularly, the social transformation brought about by the shift from a planned economy to a market economy is a key focus of his thinking. What sets him apart is his systematic model analysis of contemporary China's socioeconomic, political, and cultural dynamics, which raises three interconnected fundamental questions: What was the social structure of China during the Cultural Revolution? How has China's social structure changed since the reform and opening-up? What is the future development trend of Chinese society?
Based on this, in this book, Hu Shoujun introduces the concept of a "planned society," defining it as a social structure where economic, political, and cultural resources are controlled by the state and operate under strict planning mechanisms. After analyzing the drawbacks of a planned society, he emphasizes that "it is necessary to replace the planned economy with a market economy, leveraging the market to optimize resources and improve efficiency." In his multidimensional reflections on social "big problems," the author proposes the idea of "social coexistence theory," arguing that: among individuals, groups, and strata, there are differing interests, naturally leading to conflicts and competition. However, these conflicts and competitions are not aimed at eliminating each other but are based on the premise of coexistence. This is undoubtedly a creative and thought-provoking perspective. Hu Shoujun's choice of "Towards Coexistence" as the book's title reflects its academic significance and value in his eyes.
Second, he champions the scientific spirit and emphasizes enlightening the public's wisdom. Hu Shoujun's early studies were in natural sciences, so even after shifting to social science research, he retained the deep imprint of a natural science mindset. For example, in many of his papers in this book, he occasionally uses mathematical formulas or models to illustrate his points. This also forms one of the book's distinctive features. More importantly, his background in natural sciences infuses the book with the soul of the scientific spirit. In the book, the author discusses several specific scientific issues, such as: "Promoting the Scientific Spirit," "Divination with the I Ching on Campus," "Approaching Historical and Cultural Heritage with a Scientific Spirit," and "The Humanistic Impact of Science." With the conscience and earnestness of a intellectual, he points out: "Science is the pillar of the edifice of human civilization," and "to effectively master and utilize science, it is essential to vigorously promote the scientific spirit." He offers multifaceted interpretations of what constitutes the scientific spirit, such as: believing that the world is fundamentally ordered and knowable; recognizing that science has a tradition of empirical verification and logical discovery; advocating trial-and-error as the method of scientific cognition, promoting tolerance, and allowing for the coexistence of multiple theories, etc.
Third, his writing style is sharp and direct, piercing to the heart. In discussing issues, Hu Shoujun often incorporates the wit and sharpness characteristic of thinkers, transforming what could be a dull and lengthy academic paper into a journey of thought. This is partly due to his hobby of writing essays beyond academic theory. In his writing, this manifests as a sharp, heart-striking style, some of which could even be considered aphorisms, such as "Doubt because of the mysterious, explore because of doubt, and you may step into the rational world of science." Many of his important ideas are the result of profound reflections formed after his intellectual and practical engagement, the outcome of long-term contemplation and refinement. If you are familiar with his youth, particularly his extraordinary opposition to Zhang Chunqiao during the Cultural Revolution, you will better understand the source and motivation behind his painful reflections.
Additionally, Hu Shoujun enjoys using phrases, rhetorical questions, and parallel structures in his writing. Even brief, outline-style critiques possess inherent logical. This is because analyzing through questions themselves is inherently engaging. Such techniques can dissolve the inherent dryness and difficulty of theoretical articles. To enhance the appeal and persuasiveness of theoretical writing, apart from relevance to reality, compelling language, rigorous logical structure, and profound intellectual tension appear indispensable. They often illuminate thought in the midst of intellectual ferment, enlightening the minds of readers.