Beijing University Classics of Philosophy (Selected Works of Zhang Dainian)

Author: Zhang Dainian
Publisher:
Publishing Time: Not available
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 the background of Western philosophy and its developmental history. This is not to mention the scholars who returned from studying abroad in the West. Even the scholars with strong traditional characteristics, such as Liang Shuming and Xiong Shili, were deeply influenced by Western philosophical ideas. Western philosophy is a refined 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 modern philosophy. 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 traditions. 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 philosophy of Xuanzang," which could neither hold a high position in the history of our thought nor ultimately persist. Those who could truly create a systematic philosophy and achieve original contributions must, on one hand, absorb and introduce external doctrines, and on the other hand, not forget the position of their own nation. These two attitudes, which 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 integrate 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 the same. The selection of this series prioritizes the highlighting of their philosophical thoughts, 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 distinctive in highlighting the contributions of these scholars to the creation and research of 20th-century Chinese philosophy, while also offering the editor's unique interpretations. 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 lies in the reflection of mainland scholars on the harm caused by the May Fourth Movement to "Cultural Revolution" to traditional culture and the cultural heritage of our nation, leading to a re-examination of the relationship between tradition and modernity. Zhang Dainian (1909-2004), styled Jitong, also known as Yutong. Born in Beijing in May 1909, his original hometown was Xian County, Hebei Province. His father, Zhang Lian, was a jinshi (imperial scholar) in the Guangxu era (1903) and served as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy. His older brother, Zhang Songnian, was a modern Chinese philosopher who greatly influenced Zhang Dainian's choice of academic path. In 1928, Zhang Dainian enrolled at Tsinghua University but soon dropped out and applied to the Education Department of Beijing Normal University, where he was admitted. In 1933, upon graduating from university, he was appointed as a teaching assistant in the Department of Philosophy at Tsinghua University for his numerous published academic papers. After the "July 7 Incident," Tsinghua University moved south, and he remained in Beijing,. In 1943, he taught as a lecturer in philosophy at the private China University. After the war, in 1946, Tsinghua University reopened, and he returned to work in the Department of Philosophy at Tsinghua University, becoming a professor in 1951. In 1952, during the nationwide adjustment of higher education institutions, he was transferred to the Department of Philosophy at Peking University, where he continued his work in teaching and researching Chinese philosophy. This book is selected and compiled into three parts: philosophical theory, the history of Chinese philosophy, and cultural studies. The content of each part is arranged in chronological order according to the time of writing or publication. The advantage of this arrangement is to more comprehensively present the main academic achievements of Mr. Zhang as a philosopher, philosopher of philosophy, and master of Chinese classics to the readers. Due to space limitations, this selected collection only includes the most representative essays of Mr. Zhang from different periods, while his monographs, except for "Five Discussions on Heaven and Humanity," can only include the most essential parts. Some monographs, such as "A Brief History of Chinese Materialist Thought" and "The Study of Historical Materials in the History of Chinese Philosophy," are not included. This is done to help readers gain a comprehensive understanding of Mr. Zhang's life and his main academic achievements.