Han Fei Zi and Modernity: An Outline

BAI Tong-dong

Journal of Renmin University of China ›› 2011 ›› Issue (5) : 49-57.

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主管:教育部
主办:中国人民大学
ISSN 1000-5420  CN 11-1476/C
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Journal of Renmin University of China ›› 2011 ›› Issue (5) : 49-57.

Han Fei Zi and Modernity: An Outline

  • BAI Tong-dong
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Abstract

The most positive evaluation of the classical(pre-Qin) Chinese philosophy so far is to compare it with classical(Greek) philosophy,taking both as thoughts of the "axial age".However,not only is the "classical" Chinese thought a form of political philosophy,but the times when the classical Chinese philosophers lived in were more comparable with those of Western modernization,meaning that the problems they were dealing with were problems of modernity.Among these "modern political philosophers",Han Fei Zi most ably demonstrated his explicit awareness of the nature of political and social changes of his times through his writings.His discussion of the distinctions between the "ancients" and the "moderns" can still shed light on the debates between moral conservatism and moral nihilism as well other issues of modernity.Furthermore,to evaluate his thoughts critically can also help us to deepen our understanding of modernity and to criticize some ideas of liberalism and pluralism.

Key words

Han Fei Zi / modernity / Pre-Qin political philosophy / Liberalism / Conservatism

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BAI Tong-dong. Han Fei Zi and Modernity: An Outline[J]. Journal of Renmin University of China, 2011(5): 49-57

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