(National Committee for Examination and Approval of Scientific and Technical Terminology)
Ding Wenjiang is an accomplished and contributing "multidimensional" scientist. It is said that he is an outstanding geologist and one of the founders of China's geological cause. He has long known something about academic circles, especially in geosciences. In the May 4th New Culture Movement, in a "debate between science and metaphysics", he was little known as the leader of scientism, which is worthy of Mr. Ding Wenjiang's 65438th birthday.
First of all, briefly introduce life.
Ding Wenjiang (1887 ~ 1936), a native of Taixing, Jiangsu Province, is known as the modern "Xu Xiake". /kloc-entered a private school at the age of 0/892 and read ancient books such as Four Histories and Zi Tongzhi Jian. He loves poetry and has been praised since he was a child. /kloc-at the age of 0/0, he wrote On the Advantages and Disadvantages of Emperor Gaozu and Ming Taizu, which won the teacher's appreciation. 15 years old, scholar. An article "On Liang Wudi's Understanding of Southwest China (Foreign Countries)" was appreciated by Zhang Long, a magistrate of a county, and was accepted as a disciple.
1902 advised him to study in Japan, where he edited Jiangsu magazine, advocating the rejuvenation of China, advocating innovation, criticizing Confucian education and advocating women's liberation;
1904, persuaded by Wu Zhihui, Kang Youwei left Japan for Britain and arrived in Edinburgh with financial support;
1906, 19 was admitted to Cambridge university.
1908 was admitted to the University of Glasgow to study zoology and geology. 19 1 1 year, and returned to China after obtaining a double degree.
19 1 1 year, he took the last imperial examination in the history of China, and won the "Gezhike Jinshi".
19 12 teaches in Shanghai Nanyang Middle School;
19 13 served as the chief of the geological section of the mining administration department of the Ministry of industry and commerce of Beiyang government and concurrently served as the director of the geological research institute; It is of far-reaching significance to write down the instructions of the pilot geological survey of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and put forward the establishment of a geological research institute, which has become the first cradle for training the first generation of geologists in China.
19 16 as the director of geological survey;
1925, he went to Shanghai to be the general manager of Songhu, although it was only eight months, which caused some damage to his later image as a scientist.
193 1 was hired as a research professor in the Department of Geology of Peking University, giving a lecture on General Theory of Geology.
Second, brilliant achievements.
1. kicked off the geological survey in China.
19 1 1 On the way back from England, I landed at Haiphong, changed to the Yunnan-Vietnam railway train, entered Kunming, Yunnan, and entered Guizhou via Qianxiangyou Road. He carried out arduous geological survey along the way, which pioneered the use of modern geological methods for geological survey in China. During the investigation, he saw the sufferings of the people in Guizhou and was very moved to write a poem called "Guizhou Folk Songs".
19 13 years, German Solger and Wang Xibin went to Taihang Mountain area for geological survey, systematically investigated the geology near Zheng Tai Railway, and compiled the Geological and Mining Survey Report near Zheng Tai Road;
19 14, he went to the eastern and northern Yunnan for another geological survey, which lasted more than 200 days. He mainly inspected Gejiu tin mine and Dongchuan copper mine, obtained the general geological map near Gejiu, and published Yunnan Dongchuan Copper Mine and Report on Geology and Mineral Resources Near Gejiu.
19 14 set up a paleontology course for 22 students from the College of Geology, and led the students to go to the vicinity of Xishan in Beijing and Hebei, Shandong, Shaanxi and other places for geological practice and investigation in batches, which created a precedent for paleontology teaching in China.
19 15 carried out geological survey in Beijing, Shanxi, Xishan in Hebei and its vicinity, focusing on Shanxi and Hebei coalfields;
19 16 went to southern Anhui and western Zhejiang for geological survey;
19 17 went to Henan, Hunan and Jiangxi, mainly to inspect Pingxiang Coal Mine and Shangzhuling Iron Mine (see China Iron Mine Records);
1965438+22 students from the Institute of Geology, with him as their director, graduated in 2006, enriching the China Geological Survey, thus opening the prelude to the geological survey in China.
19 17 went to southern Anhui and western Zhejiang for geological survey;
19 18 visited Europe with Liang Qichao, attended the Paris Peace Conference, and visited geological facilities in some countries;
19 18 went to Datong, Shanxi Province for geological and mineral investigation;
19 19 published articles such as Minerals in China and Geology of the Lower Yangtze River. In this paper, the strata in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River are divided, and the relationship between the geological structure of the Jiangnan mountains and the Qinling and Nanling structures, as well as their special structures and crustal movement ages are discussed.
1928 Entrusted by the Ministry of Railways, he went to Guangxi to carry out the route reconnaissance of Sichuan-Guangzhou Railway and the geological and mineral survey along the line;
1in the spring of 929, an investigation team with him as the general commander was set up and went to the southwest border region for geological investigation again. The contents of the survey include five disciplines: geology, geography, minerals and ethnology. The investigation route and environment are very difficult, basically high mountains and virgin forests. During the investigation, Zhao Ya, his favorite pupil, was killed and deeply saddened. He wrote "ten thousand tricks"
1935 12 carry out the government's emergency mineral exploration plan, especially the coal mine survey along the Guangdong-Han railway, and arrive in Hunan for geological survey. He died in Hengyang at the age of 49 because of continuous field work.
2 to create or participate in the creation of the cradle of China's geological development.
19 13 served as the chief of the geological section of the mining administration department of Beiyang government (the first geological administrative institution in China); At the same time, he served as the director of the Geological Survey Institute and wrote the Work Description of Pilot Geological Survey of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. In the same year, he co-founded the Institute of Geology, an institution that trained the first batch of geologists in China, and served as the director;
19 13 was hired as a member of geological society of china to give an academic report on geology in Yunnan and Guizhou; 1923 as the president of the association;
19 18 At the beginning of this year, he met Li Siguang in Europe and hoped to return to China. Soon, Mr. Li received a letter of appointment from Cai Yuanpei, president of Peking University, and rebuilt the Geology Department of Peking University after returning to China.
1920 During his visit to the United States, entrusted by Cai Yuanpei, president of Peking University, he hired Professor Glip, a famous geologist and paleontologist from Columbia University in the United States, to lead the teaching and research of paleontology in Peking University. It is because of Ge's coming to China that a number of famous paleontologists in China, such as Yin Zanxun, have been trained.
1922 participated in the preparation and establishment of the geological society of china, wrote the journal "Organization History of geological society of china" for the Journal of geological society of china, published the article "geological society of china Purpose", and was elected as a director twice;
1923 initiated the establishment of China Paleontology Research Society, with members including Luo Zhenyu, Zhang Xueliang, Zhang Liang Qichao and Weng.
1August, 929, attended the founding meeting of the Chinese Paleontological Society, and Yu also attended the meeting.
1929 concurrently serves as honorary director of Cenozoic laboratory of geological survey;
/kloc-0. In March, 934, he participated in the establishment of the Geographical Society of China and gathered academic celebrities, including Weng, Li Siguang, Zhu Kezhen, Xie, Ye, Gu Jiegang and Tan Qixiang.
Geological exhibition hall (museum) and geological library have been established one after another.
3. Main works (only related to geology)
19 14 published the Geological and Mining Investigation Report near Zheng Tai Railway Co-authored with Solger and Wang Xibin;
19 15 Publishing Yunnan Dongchuan Copper Mine (English) and Far East Times;
19 16 published "China Coal Mine" (English) and "Far East Times";
19 19 published Geology of the Lower Yangtze River (English) and Water Conservancy Quarterly of Taihu Basin;
Minerals of China (English), Far East Times;
192 1 published the first summary of China mining industry, co-authored with Weng;
13 International Geological Congress held in Belgium in 1922, a paper entitled "Geological Structure of East Yunnan" was read out, in which East Yunnan was divided into 9 structural units and their structural characteristics were discussed.
1922 published "Organization History of geological society of china" and "Journal of Geological Society of China Society".
Geological Report No.4, Xihu Village Manganese Mine, Changping County, Jingzhao;
1923 published "Replay Printed Stories" and "Efforts Weekly";
1923 published 50 years of mining in China and nearly 50 years;
1923, participated in the debate on "metaphysics and science", defeated the metaphysical school with the four macro theories of "science and outlook on life", publicized and defended scientific thoughts and spirit, advocated scientific methods, and became the main leader of the scientific school; In the same year, fifty years of mining in China was published;
1924 delivered a report on "the training of geologists in China" at the second annual meeting in geological society of china;
1926 Novel Monthly published the book Xu Xiake's Travels. The main contents are: purpose, route, discovery and its literary and scientific value;
1927, he edited Xu Xiake's Travels and compiled a new atlas for textual research according to the map. The attached chronicle of Xu Xiake is of great help, with the help of Hu Shi and Liang Rengong.
1928 China Guanying mining historical materials were published by Geological Survey;
1929 published the paper "China orogeny", expounding the staged viewpoints of China orogeny, namely Guangxi movement, Haixi movement and Yanshan movement, Journal of geological society of china, Volume 8;
193 1, The Stratification of Fengning Collection was published, and The Tenth Volume of China Huizhi Geological Society was published;
193 1 published the responsibility of geologists in China and the journal of geological research society of Peking University.
193 1 published the Preliminary Exploration Report of Sichuan-Guangzhou Railway Route, co-authored with Ceng Shiying, and the Geological Special Report;
1932 published Statistical Research on Difference of Aspect Ratio with XIe Shiyan, geological society of china Xi Volume;
1932 published "Wandering Notes" and serialized it in Independent Review, describing his geological and geographical investigation in 22 provinces (regions) such as Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Guangxi, Taihang Mountain and Yanshan during the past 20 years.
1In June, 933, he went to the United States to attend the 16 international geological conference held in Washington, D.C. on behalf of the China government and geological society, and published a paper report on Permian in China and its significance in Permian stratigraphic division and Carboniferous in China and its significance in Mississippi and Bencheveni stratigraphic division. During the meeting, he also attended the preparatory meeting of the International Paleontological Union on behalf of China and was elected as a member of the preparatory committee. After the meeting, he visited Britain, Sweden and Switzerland. At the end of August, he arrived in Moscow, the Soviet Union, and was received by the Soviet Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration. He visited Baku oil field and other places, left a deep impression and praise, and had a great influence on his political thought.
1934 published Travel Notes of Russia and Oilfield Geology in Southern Soviet Union, and published more than ten articles in Independent Review, which shows that the achievements of Soviet geological science have far-reaching influence.
1933, The New Map of the Republic of China and the New Maps of China Provinces, edited by Ding Wenjiang, Weng and Ceng Shiying, were published by Shenbao Museum, which was highly praised and called "the first map innovation in China".
4. Contribution to Academia Sinica
1934, Cai Yuanpei was invited as the president of academia sinica. He is a pragmatic executive head, especially influenced by the scientific achievements of the Soviet Union. He entered the Academia Sinica as an ambitious reformer. First, he set up a board of directors and a fund trusteeship committee, trying to concentrate the national scientific research strength on Academia Sinica, which caused a storm in the scientific community. There will be a special article about Ding Wenjiang's achievements in Academia Sinica, and the following documents are listed for your reference:
(1) Cai Yuanpei, Mr. Ding Zaijun's Contribution to Academia Sinica, Independent Review,No. 188.
(2) Zhu Jiahua's Ding Wenjiang and Academia Sinica, Journal of Academia Sinica, Episode 3.
(3) Memories of Li Ji's scientific research advocated by Ding Wenjiang, Journal of Academia Sinica.
(4) Mr Ding Wenjiang of GLIP and the development of science in China.
(5) Ding Wenjiang's Mission of Academia Sinica, Oriental Magazine, Vol.32, No.2..
(6) Ding Wenjiang's Scientific Construction, independent review,No. 15 1 issue.
(7) Ding Wenjiang's "Scientific Work of Academia Sinica in China", British "Nature" weekly.
(8) Ding Wenjiang's Modern Science in China, p. 1 133.
(9) Ding Wenjiang's scientific research in China.
From the literature, we can understand his scientific view, scientific thought, scientific methodology and his work in Academia Sinica.
Third, the whole story of the dispute between science and metaphysics.
During the May 4th New Culture Movement, a debate on "metaphysics and science" which promoted scientific thought and spirit reached its climax: the theme of the debate was the relationship between science and outlook on life.
1923 On February 4th, Professor Zhang Junmai of Tsinghua University (1887 ~ 1969) gave an academic report to overseas students, and then published the article Science and Outlook on Life. His basic views are as follows:
(1) Science is objective and outlook on life is subjective;
(2) Science can start with analytical methods, while the outlook on life is comprehensive;
(3) Science focuses on theoretical (logical) methods, and the outlook on life starts from consciousness;
(4) Science is dominated by the law of cause and effect, while the outlook on life is free will;
(5) Science starts from the same object, and the outlook on life starts from the oneness of personality.
In short, it is emphasized that the center of outlook on life is self, and the opposite is "no self". Science has a set of reasoning methods. The outlook on life starts from intuition, science is dominated by the law of cause and effect, and people have free will, identity and automatic conscience. The conclusion is that science is meaningless to the outlook on life and cannot solve the problem of outlook on life.
After the publication of Zhang Junmai's article, on April 12, his close friend Ding Wenjiang published a critical article on Metaphysics and Science-Comment on Zhang Junmai's Outlook on Life in Hard Weekly (No.48 and No.49). This paper discusses and refutes the above five viewpoints of metaphysics one by one, and draws the conclusion that life and psychological problems. The purpose of science is to abolish personal subjective prejudice. Scientific rationality can solve people's emotional problems, and then it is certain that a scientific outlook on life can be established and solved by scientific methods. That is, human beings should use scientific principles to dominate their outlook on life, thinking that science is nothing more than classifying things, seeking their order, and then summarizing them into scientific conventions. "... and scientific conventions are constantly changing with new discoveries, optics and Newtonian mechanics are developing, the concept of time and space is changing, and the theory of evolution itself is developing ..." It is affirmed that psychological phenomena are also scientific contents and develop according to some objective laws; The discussion of natural, spiritual and material problems is also involved in this paper.
Then, Zhang Junmai published "Re-discussing Outlook on Life and Science and Answering Ding Zaijun" in the Morning Post Supplement (top, middle and bottom). In addition to expounding the metaphysical point of view again, this paper emphatically refutes the "science omnipotence" of Ding Wenjiang and other scientific schools from the epistemological point of view, accusing Ding of "superstitious science poisoning", and holding that science and outlook on life belong to different worlds, and science can only be in the material world. The problems of life are complex, there is no uniform standard, and there is no cause and effect to follow. "So, at all times and in all countries, the most disunited person in the world is the outlook on life." It is believed that people's inner spiritual activities are changeable and freely created, and scientific methods taking the material world as the research object cannot act on them. Neither scientific method nor causality can be applied to the problem of outlook on life, which fundamentally denies the universality of scientific basic principles and scientific methods advocated by scientific schools. Zhang Junmai emphasized that "China people are superstitious about science and regard science as omnipotent and omniscient", and pointed out the particularity of people's psychology, emotion and will by using the latest experimental psychology and philosophy of life.
Zhang Junmai accompanied Liang Qichao to Europe for inspection. Zhang Junmai accepted the critical view of European Superman philosophy on western civilization at that time and used it as an ideological weapon against the scientific outlook on life.
At this time, the debate between metaphysics and science has aroused widespread concern in society. On May 5, Liang Qichao published the debate on metaphysics and science in Public International Law in Wartime-Liang Qichao's declaration of temporary outsider. On May 23, Outlook on Life and Science-Criticism on the Debate between Zhang and Ding basically tended to metaphysical viewpoint, and it was in the form of fifty boards each.
On May 1 1 day, Hu Shi published "Sun Walker and Zhang Junmai" in Efforts Weekly. Zhang Yancun (Zhang), one of the founders of China's geological cause, published "Five Questions about Zhang Junmai's Scientific Outlook on Life" in Hard Weekly, which strongly supported the arguments of the scientific school.
On May 30th, Ding Wenjiang once again published "Metaphysics and Science —— Answer to Zhang Junmai" in Endeavour Weekly, completely refuting Zhang Junmai's doubts about scientific outlook on life and his theory of scientific omnipotence, and once again pointing out that metaphysics takes care of the outlook on life from metaphysics, agrees with traditional Confucianism, and advocates the revival of philosophy of life and neo-Song studies. At this point, the debate has entered a white-hot stage.
Zhang Junmai gave a speech at China University entitled "Evaluation of Science", which refuted Ding Wenjiang's statement that science dominates the outlook on life, and said: "Scientific problem-solving is also limited ..." On June 5th, Ding Wenjiang published "Afterglow of Metaphysics and Scientific Discussion" in Efforts Weekly, emphasizing the pursuit of objective truth by science and seriously criticizing metaphysical ontology and viewpoints unrelated to outlook on life.
In addition to Hu Shi and Zhang Yancun (Zhang), there are:
(1) Ren Shuyong's scientific outlook on life or scientific outlook on life, Efforts Weekly, 1923 May;
(2) Zhu Jingnong's questions after reading two articles about Zhang Junmai's outlook on life and science, Efforts Weekly, May1923;
(3) Psychologist Tang Yue has published many papers in succession, including "Enlightenment from the Debate between Metaphysics and Science" and "Idiot's Dream-Is Emotion Really Superscientific? The Category of Science, On the Debate between Science and Metaphysics, The Eyes of Philosophers, etc.
(4) Chen Duxiu's Preface to Science and Outlook on Life, Shanghai Yadong Library,1924;
(5) Comment on Wu Zhihui's outlook on life, 1924 65438+ 10/8 "Light of Learning";
(6) Wang Xinggong (1887 ~ 1949) argued in Science and Outlook on Life that science can solve the problem of outlook on life, and what is a scientific method?
The people who support the metaphysical school are:
(1) Wu Zhihui comments on stereotyped writing, supplement of Morning Post;
(2) Zhang's "Get something for nothing-comment on the science in Mr. Ding Zaijun's mouth";
(3) The personality and education of rural residents, supplement of Morning Post;
(4) Lu Zhiwei's dead dog psychology;
(5) Reading Mr. Ding Zaijun's Metaphysics and Outlook on Life by Lin Zaiping criticized Ding's scientism;
(6) Gan Axian's outlook on life and knowledge.
The debate involves all levels of academic circles, and Marxist pioneers also participated in the debate, making a more incisive exposition of science and metaphysics, including:
(1) Qu Qiubai published Oriental Culture and World Culture in New Youth on June 1923, and published Free World and Necessary World in New Youth on October 24th of the same year.
(2) Deng Zhongxia 10 published "Current Ideological Circles in China" in New Youth on 3 October, 1923,1924 and 10 published "Ideological United Front" in New Youth on 26 October.
(3)1On July 29th, 924, Xiao Chunv (signed by Xiao Chuyu) published "The Kuomintang and Recent Domestic Ideological Circles" in "New Construction".
(4) Chen Duxiu pointed out in his answer 1923 published on February 9th that Hu Shi was a pluralist and commented on his pragmatic philosophy. 1 19231On October 23rd, he prefaced the book Science and Outlook on Life, thinking that,
Other important academic articles are:
(5) Hu Shi1923165438+1October 29th made a preface to the book Science and Outlook on Life. Subsequently, Hu Shi published a reply to Mr. Chen Duxiu.
(6) In the field of philosophy, Cai Yuanpei published "The Philosophy of China in the Past 50 Years" in February 1923, proposing that aesthetic education should replace religious belief.
(7) Feng Youlan published Outlook on Life.
(8) Liang Qichao 1924+ published "Fei Wei" after February.
The most important viewpoint of Scientology School is that science is the theoretical basis of outlook on life, and the cognitive methods and ways of thinking contained in science can change China people's ideas and beliefs. As a universal value norm and law, science is applied in all fields of social life. The School of Science has basically been recognized by most scholars.
Zhang Junmai, a representative of the metaphysical school, still insists on idealism in the preface of The Debate of Life. 10 years later, he published a comment on the debate on outlook on life, in which he explained: "All the words' science' in my mind at that time really meant natural science, not all sciences, because nature can be opposed to outlook on life." He amended: "Science itself is knowledge, and there are two objects of knowledge: ① nature; 2 life. Science is knowledge about nature and human society. " "... science can study life problems or social problems, but ... there are personal problems, ... there are will problems ... it is not to find common laws." Finally, he still believes that "science should be a natural science, that is, taking nature as the research object".
In the later stage of the debate, China advocated that the pioneers of Marxism also published papers one after another, commenting on the arguments of the two factions respectively:
(1)1923165438+10/3 In the preface of Science and Outlook on Life, Chen Duxiu advocated using historical materialism as the theoretical basis of outlook on life. His view is: "We believe that only objective material reasons can change society. Ding Wenjiang and Hu Shi, two Scientologists, were regarded as pluralists and commented on Hu Shi's pragmatic philosophy. Hu Shi published Answer to Mr. Chen Duxiu on1October 29th 165438+ and Chen Duxiu published Answer to Yidu on February 9th, 65438.
(2) Qu Qiubai published "Free World and Inevitable World-Refuting Zhang Junmai" 1 1923 in "New Youth" on October 24th, which brilliantly exposed the idealistic thoughts of the metaphysical school.
(3) 1 924 August1day, Chen Duxiu published "Answering Zhang Junmai and Liang Rengong" in New Youth.
(4) 1 924 August1day, Qu Qiubai published "Experimentalism and Revolutionary Philosophy-Refuting Hu Shizhi" in New Youth.
A year after the debate, Liang Qichao published Fei Wei, in which he refuted materialism. He thinks: "Life is the most complicated and contradictory, … the truth can't be expressed by the word' Wei', … anything that talks about' Wei' is not reasonable", insisting on the dualism of mind and matter and criticizing Chen Duxiu's mechanistic outlook on life will lead to a conclusion.
The debate on "metaphysics and science" ended in the failure of metaphysics, which reflected the basic content of this academic debate. The two factions each published a collection of essays, with Science and Outlook on Life as the editor-in-chief of Neo-Confucianism and Hu Shi and Chen Duxiu as the "preface"; The Debate on Outlook on Life edited by Metaphysical School is prefaced by Zhang Junmai.
In recent years, some scholars have put forward new comments on the debate between metaphysics and science, arguing that this debate is basically just advocating scientific ideas, propagating scientific spirit and methods in the upper class and trying to establish a scientific outlook on life, but it has not taken root among the people, which has been greatly restricted and has not formed a force to promote scientific development and social development. In particular, although the Scientology School won the debate, their views on science were deeply influenced by their own experimentalism, positivism, pragmatism and empiricism. For example, influenced by Hu Shi's traditional philosophical thinking, the modern rational thinking mode with scientific argumentation as the core casts a layer of Mach doctrine and pragmatism on "bold and cautious verification".
On the Mahism of Hu Shi and Ding Wenjiang, during the annual meeting of the National Committee of Geoscience Philosophy and the Society of Dialectics of Nature in the mid-1990s, the famous theorists Yu Guangyuan and Gong Yuzhi were consulted twice. They agreed that even if there was Mahism, it could not completely obliterate the brilliance of the scientific school in advocating scientific thoughts, scientific spirit and scientific methods at that time. At that time, science in China was in its infancy, and it was necessary to carry forward scientific thoughts and spirit and advocate scientific methods as the mainstream.
He also quoted Ai Siqi, a Marxist theorist, who criticized Hu Shi in the early 1950s and commented on Hu Shi's article "Scientific Outlook on Life". He believes that this article really shows that Hu Shi has brilliant natural science materialism.
Gong Yuzhi pointed out in the article "Humanistic Thinking on the Development of Science and Technology in the New Century": "Ding Wenjiang and Hu Shi, the representatives of scientism, tried to list a series of basic viewpoints to describe his scientific outlook on life. ..... No matter how critical Hu Shi and Ding Wenjiang's view of science can and should be, I think it is a progress in China's ideological circle, and there is no reason to evaluate it as the origin of the condemned "scientism" rule.
In the footnote of the article, it is emphasized that: "Their view of science, especially Ding Wenjiang's view of science, was originally materialistic in natural science, but at the philosophical level, it was mixed with pragmatism and Mahism. At that time, when Hu Shi's movement was criticized, most Marxist workers took a completely negative attitude towards pragmatism and Mahism, so Ding Wenjiang and Hu Shi's defense of scientific glory in this debate was also obliterated. ..... Now, of course, people no longer treat pragmatism and Mahism with this simple attitude, and treat Hu Shi and Ding Wenjiang. " .
Someone asked me, who is Zhang Junmai?
(1) Zhang Junmai (1887 ~ 1969) studied law and politics at Waseda University in Japan in his early years, and later studied philosophy in Germany. He is a professor in Peking University and yenching university. 1923, the publication of "Outlook on Life" and other articles set off a debate between metaphysics and science. He was a political commissar of the Kuomintang and drafted the Constitution of the Republic of China. Liang Qichao and Zhang Junmai visited Europe together, and accepted the critical exposition of western civilization by Superman philosophy and life philosophy in Europe at that time, and used it as an ideological weapon against the scientific outlook on life.
In The Controversy of Outlook on Life, Zhang Junmai insisted on the pluralistic view of history, refuted Chen Duxiu's monism of historical materialism, insisted that "social change" was the theoretical basis of spiritual legislation based on the principle of human free will, and put forward an outline of outlook on life that did not conform to scientific norms.
(2) Liang Qichao (1873 ~ 1929) was born as a juren, participated in the reform and political reform in the late Qing Dynasty, 1895 accompanied Kang Youwei to launch a letter on the bus, and 1896 published the General Discussion on Political Reform. He is a famous modern bourgeois reformer. Participated in the debate, and published "Fei Wei" one year later (1924), refuting materialism. He thinks: "Life is the most complicated and contradictory, and the truth can't be expressed by the word Wei, and anything about Wei is not truth." Adhering to the dualism of mind and matter and pointing out Chen Duxiu's mechanical outlook on life ... will lead to a final conclusion; It is worth mentioning that in the debate between science and outlook on life, Liang Qichao also used the damage caused by the European War to illustrate the bankruptcy of the "omnipotence of science". However, it cannot be ignored that he had a certain influence on China's social change and scientific enlightenment.
Some scholars have suggested that Hu Shi put forward the general outline of scientific outlook on life on the basis of scientific principles, spirit and methods, and Marxist Chen Duxiu advocated "historical materialism" as the theoretical basis of outlook on life.
The metaphysical school's criticism of the "science omnipotence" of the scientific school is that science can't solve the problem of outlook on life, science and outlook on life belong to different worlds, and science can only play a role in the material world but not in the spiritual world.
Metaphysics criticizes Marxist monism of historical materialism, which explains that the world is material, material is primary and spirit is secondary.
Chen Duxiu's defense is to adhere to the monism of matter and oppose the dualism of mind and matter, which is aimed at Liang Qichao's "non-uniqueness" argument. It holds that philosophy has always been divided into material monism and spiritual monism, and there is no dualism.
Chen Duxiu, Hu Shi and others criticize religious superstition and idolatry with scientific and rational knowledge, which is conducive to the establishment of human subjectivity. Chen Duxiu proposed that science should replace religion and become a new belief in life. Cai Yuanpei proposed to replace religion with aesthetic education. Liang Shuming pointed out that the characteristic of China culture is to replace religion (morality) with rites and music. Hu Shi put forward the idea of religious humanization, that is, "naturalistic outlook on life". Feng Youlan proposed replacing religion with philosophy.
The debate between science and metaphysics is an important stage of "science replacing religion".
Liang Shuming said: "Science is knowledge, religion is behavior, knowledge cannot change our behavior, and behavior is based on modality."
Marxist historical materialism explains that the world is the origin of all things, emphasizing that the origin of the world is material, material is primary and spirit is secondary. Historical materialism is monism.
The article The Influence of Debate between Science and Metaphysics on China's Cultural Philosophy published by Guangming Daily points out that Chen Duxiu and Qu Qiubai's support for scientism, scientific understanding of historical materialism and rejection of metaphysics in this debate constitute an inevitable explanatory background for China people to accept Marxist philosophy.
The spirit of the May 4th New Culture Movement is a trinity of scientific spirit, democratic spirit and patriotic spirit. First of all, we should get rid of feudal superstition and obscurantism, enlighten China's new cultural trend of thought, understand nature, society and ourselves with a rational attitude and scientific methods, abandon the old ethical concept of "loyalty to the monarch and serving the country" and carry forward the patriotic tradition of the Chinese nation.