Destiny and Mission: A Century-Long Reflection on the Issue of Chinese Intellectuals

Author: Feng Jianhui
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: The historical fate of intellectuals in modern China vividly reflects the difficulties and twists in China's pursuit of social transformation and modernization. The author adopts a unique perspective, breaking away from the traditional "political perspective," "cultural perspective," and "pure rational perspective" often used in the study of the intellectual question. By placing the issue of intellectuals within the broader context of modern Chinese historical development, the author conducts a systematic historical examination of the status, social position, and historical roles of intellectuals in various periods. Furthermore, the author presents many thought-provoking insights on long-standing views and theories about intellectuals, such as the criteria for social positioning, the relationship between intellectuals and other social strata, the connection between the fate of intellectuals and the overall social condition, the characteristics of intellectual thinking, the relationship between academia and policy, and the dynamics between scholars and politicians. This work is an invaluable contribution to recent research on the intellectual question in China.