Reinvigorating the Lost Philosophical Self: The Life-Nature of Philosophical Innovation

Description

This book not only presents Gao’s major philosophical views and background but also reflects “our” self-consciousness and zeitgeist. Reinvigorating the Lost Philosophical Self is the last major published work by Qinghai Gao. The three parts of the book are organized around the themes of “traditional reality and philosophy”, “philosophy and innovation” and “man and philosophy”, respectively. The book does not only provide a philosophical standpoint but also broaden the horizon on which the Chinese turn to themselves, to the times and to the world. Presently, under the context of the Covid pandemic, trade war, regional conflicts and economic slowdown, there is an increasing risk of disruption to people’s lives. The book sheds some light on where we are going. Coming from a Chinese philosopher, Reinvigorating the Lost Philosophical Self is concerned with our destiny, reflects our hardships and attempts to provide answers to our questions. Preface Contents 1 The Significance of the View of Practice as a Way of Thinking 1 The Significance of the Philosophical Way of Thinking 2 Types of Philosophical Way of Thinking 3 Practice as a Historical Concept 4 The Significance of the View of Practice as a New Way of Thinking 5 Implementation of the View of Practice and the Transformation of Philosophical Conceptions References 2 The Fate of Theory and the Fate of China 1 True and False Fates 2 Groping for Utility and Probing into Theory 3 The Predicaments of Theory and Practice Reference 3 Reevaluating the Opposition Between Materialism and Idealism 1 It Is Necessary to Eliminate This Fossilized Paradigm 2 The Debate Between Materialism and Idealism Does not Define Philosophy Eternally 3 The Division Between Materialism and Idealism Cannot Determine All Ways of Knowing 4 The Opposition Between Materialism and Idealism Is not Equivalent to the Opposition Between the True and the False 5 The Opposition Between Materialism and Idealism Can Be Transcended Reference 4 Philosophy Makes Its Way Back to the Real World 1 The Nature of the Negative Unity of the “Real World” 2 Differentiation and Unity of the “Philosophical World” 3 The Abstract Unity of the “Ontological World” 4 The Contradiction Between the “Theological World” and the “Scientific World” 5 The Way Back to the “Real world” References 5 Humans Are the Key to the Secret of Philosophy 1 Humans and the “Objective World” of Philosophy 2 Humans and the Philosophical Way of Thinking 3 Humans and the Evolutionary Characteristics of Philosophy 4 Humans and the Historic Change in Philosophy Reference 6 The Market Economy, the Subject and Modern Philosophy 1 The Relationships Between Philosophy, the Economy and Man 2 The Market Economy and the Emergence of Independent Human Individuals 3 The Development of the Market Economy and the Transformation of Philosophical Ideas References 7 Rethinking the Conception and Method of Understanding “Human Beings” 1 The Abstraction of Human Beings Stems from the Speciesized-Way of Understanding 2 Only by Going Beyond “Speciesized-Philosophy” Can One Enter the Real World of Human Beings 3 Human Beings: From Abstract to Concrete References 8 “Humans” Can Be Understood Only in the Human Way 1 “Human Beings”: Mystery of the Object of Knowledge for Human Beings 2 “Philosophy”: Unique Form of Consciousness to Explore the Mysteries of Human Beings 3 History of Philosophy: The Special Approach and Method of Knowing in Search of Human Beings 4 The Speciesizing-Principle: The Unique Logical Idea to Grasp Human Nature References 9 The Speciesizing-Nature of Man and the Speciesizing-Philosophy 1 The Genesis of the Speciesizing-Philosophy 2 How to Grasp Human Nature 3 The Fundamental Differences Between the Speciesizing-Nature and the Speciesized-Nature 4 How Can Speciesizing-Philosophy Be Understood? 5 What Is the Theoretical Significance and Practical Value of the Speciesizing-Philosophy? References 10 Finding the Lost Self of Our Philosophy 1 Losing the Self of Our Philosophy 2 Seeking Philosophical Identity References 11 Recovering Tradition and the National Identity 1 An Important Issue 2 Speciesizing-Nature and National Identity 3 On the Western Mode 12 Traditional Chinese Philosophy: Spiritual Wealth of Mankind 1 Do not Forget Who We Are 2 Understand Traditional Chinese Philosophy with the Chinese Mode of Thinking 3 Seizing the General Spirit and Unique Style of Chinese Philosophy 13 Changing the Traditional Mindset of Philosophy 1 Understanding Philosophy: Locating Basis and Outlook 2 The Characteristics of Philosophical Theories: “Man’s Self-Consciousness of His Own Nature” 3 Theoretical Character of Philosophy: The Key to the Secret of Philosophy is Man 4 Misguidance of Philosophy: Clarification of Several Popular Ideas (1) 5 Misguidance of Philosophy: Clarification of Several Popular Ideas (2) 6 Being Cognizant, Being Enlightened and Being Self-Conscious: The Thinking Character of Philosophy References 14 Human Nature 1 Methodological Principle of Understanding Human Beings: Man Can Only Be Understood in the Human Way, not in the Speciesized-Way 2 The Link Between Materiality and Supra-Materiality: Human Nature Can Be Understood Only in Human Life 3 The Unique Nature of Human Beings: A Human Being is not a Single Life but a Being with a Dual Life 4 The Relationship Between Human Beings and Nature from the Perspective of Dual Life: In Terms of Human Nature, Human Beings and the World in Which Human Beings Live Have an Internally Unified Relationship 5 The Relationship Between Human Beings and Society from the Perspective of Dual Life: The Social Nature and Life Nature of Human Beings Have the Dual Nature of the “Group” and the “Speciesizing” Reference 15 Emancipation of the Mind and Emancipation of Man 1 Why Must the Mind Be Emancipated? 2 Where Should the Mind Be Emancipated from? 3 How Can the Mind Be Emancipated? 4 Reform and Emancipation of Man References 16 The Life of Philosophy Lies in Innovation 1 The Relationship Between Adherence and Development 2 The Relationship Between Marxist Philosophy and Modern Western Philosophy 3 The Current Issue of the Relationship Between Philosophy and Practice 4 Evaluation of Ten Years of Philosophical Exploration 5 The Growth Point of Philosophy in the Present Era 17 Transformation of Philosophical Concepts 1 What Worldly Contradictions Should the Worldview Ultimately Resolve? 2 On the Fundamental Issue of the Transformation of Marxist Philosophy 3 On the Understanding of the Content of World Unity 4 On the Question of Humanity 5 On the Laws Governing Human Activities 6 On How to View the Significance of Subjectivity 7 On the Issue of the Unity of Truth, Goodness and Beauty References 18 Attempts at the Reform of the Philosophical System 1 Reforming the Philosophical System is Imperative 2 The Main Reasons for Reforming the Old System 3 What are the Main Problems with the Old System? 4 How Should the Philosophical System be Reformed? 5 Only a Preliminary Attempt