Classics of Philosophy from Peking University (Selected Works of Hu Shih)

Author: Chen Lai, Editor-in-Chief; Hu Shi, Author
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: Editing The Selected Works of Hu Shi—Classics of the Peking University Philosophy Department is a meaningful endeavor. It not only helps people re-evaluate Hu Shi's pioneering role in the development of philosophy at Peking University but also promotes the "Sinological" tradition of Hu Shi's research on the history of Chinese philosophy. This book reviews the achievements of these 20th-century philosophical classics, with two points being particularly prominent:
First, the study of modern Chinese philosophy is invariably grounded in Western philosophy and its historical development as a reference framework. This is true for scholars who returned from studying abroad in the West, as well as for those with strong traditional inclinations, such as Liang Shuming and Xiong Shili. Their philosophical concerns were profoundly influenced by Western philosophical ideas. Western philosophy represents the refined expression of rational analysis and construction in human wisdom. Although the form of Western philosophy is unique, many of its discussions are universally relevant. While the discourse of Western philosophy is not the fundamental definition of what philosophy is, it has become the foundation of modern philosophical disciplines. Studying Western philosophy provides an important and universally meaningful method for researching other philosophies. A deeper understanding of Western philosophy and the philosophies of other parts of the world will enable us to gain a more profound insight into 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 Yinque once said, "I suspect that if China, even in the future, were to faithfully introduce the thoughts of North America or Eastern Europe, the result would be no different from the case of Xuanzang's Yogācāra Buddhism. It could neither occupy a high position in our intellectual history nor ultimately persist." Those who could truly establish a systematic philosophical framework and achieve original contributions must, on the one hand, absorb and introduce external doctrines, while on the other hand, not forget the position of their own national heritage. These two attitudes—contradictory yet complementary—are the true spirit of Taoism, the old path of Neo-Confucianism, and what two thousand years of intellectual exchange between our nation and others has revealed.
Xiong Shili's New Yi Studies, Liang Shuming's New 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 with classical Chinese philosophy to varying degrees and integrate with the practical realities of Chinese cultural traditions. This is true for all Chinese philosophers who achieved remarkable success in constructing philosophical systems in the 20th century.
The selection of this series prioritizes the philosophical ideas of the scholars, giving equal weight to masterpieces and seminal works. The editors have strived to differentiate themselves from existing collections, showcasing their unique selection (perspective) and organizational ingenuity. This allows the series to highlight the contributions of these scholars to 20th-century Chinese philosophy while also offering the editors' distinctive interpretations.
In the past two decades, academic research on contemporary Neo-Confucianism on the mainland of China has yielded remarkable achievements. 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 was only an external factor. The internal reason lies in the mainland scholars' reflection on the harm inflicted by the May Fourth Movement and the Cultural Revolution on traditional culture and the heritage of their own nation, leading them to re-examine the relationship between tradition and modernity.