After the Republic (Essays on Political Philosophy and Law)

Author: Gu Su
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: The selected essays in this collection are recent works by the author on political and legal philosophy, published or written in recent years. They revolve around contemporary hot issues such as democracy, the rule of law, civil rights, and the conscience of humanistic intellectuals, with discussions linked to the realities of China. To explore the attitudes and methodologies of fundamental theoretical research, several essays are dedicated to addressing key issues of contemporary research philosophy, including the spirit of scientific rationality, academic neutrality, and adherence to norms. These topics are interconnected, touching upon the understanding of basic political and legal concepts, principles, and the fundamental ideas of reform. The writing of these essays stems from an inner impulse driven by a sense of social responsibility, and some chapters have garnered significant societal response since their publication, serving as a great reward for the author's thoughts and efforts.
Contemporary political and legal philosophy has become a focal point in China's intellectual and theoretical circles, as the development of social realities and the deepening of reform have created urgent and arduous tasks for political system reform, thereby intensifying the demand for theoretical research. The novelty of these tasks requires us to first organize, analyze, and discern existing achievements in Western political and legal philosophy, and then conduct innovative research by linking them to the realities of China, proposing reform theories and plans that suit the existing socio-cultural characteristics. The author appreciates a direct, sharp, and incisive academic style and writing approach, hence has always strived to discuss issues in a clear and realistic manner. In recent years, the author has attempted to go beyond merely introducing Western political and legal philosophy, making efforts to innovate theoretically by combining East Asian culture and Chinese realities through critical analysis. Occasionally, some popular political essays and (essays) have also been written, with the subjective intention of contributing to China's comprehensive reform and development. Thus, these immature writings serve as a small (account) to the readers.