My thoughts after reading "Eight Years of Tsinghua University"

Since Comte advocated treating society as an object of scientific research in 1830, sociology has started to stumble, almost two hundred years ago. So far, there is no great weather. Compared with other disciplines, such as economics, since Smith opened up the territory in 1776, it has gained momentum and has become a prominent discipline today, with countless people making a living from it. Is it just because sociology was born 50 years later than economics? That doesn't seem to be the case.

I believe that the core problem is that the fundamental reason why "scientific" sociology has gone astray is that it presupposes a permanent value. This value seems to be similar to Liang Shiqiu's "Theory of Human Nature", which is predicted by the researchers themselves. Even the researchers themselves may not be aware of it. Then, as Mr. Liang Shiqiu said in his article, during the May Fourth period, the thirst for knowledge was extremely strong, and he was involved in a wide range of subjects and was eclectic. In fact, researchers used their own inner and even potential unconscious values ??and standards to judge and choose knowledge. The result of this trade-off is the creation of a school of thought that is appreciated and even admired by a certain class that is consistent with its value orientation (note that this class is fluid in and out, just like any other class). From this, Mr. Liang was able to gain a foothold in society, and his alumni Wu Jingchao and Wu Wenzao were similar to this.

The attitude of economics is very clear. It openly declares that it studies economic value. The topics that can be developed from this are extremely broad, because it is necessary to figure out how to achieve prosperity (and this is precisely the eternity of human beings). subject), including individuals and countries. Of course, such a research orientation will also have the problem of personal values ??interfering with academics, but after all, it is clear and clear, so it can compete with natural science: they are all instrumental truths that serve people, and anyone can use them! No borders! ! Of course, we do not rule out "some economists and economists" who carry the banner of economics and argue about values. In fact, these people are economic philosophers, philosophers who gain survival resources as economists.

From this, we can think of philosophy and literature, which are essentially the same thing. One is rational profundity, the other is perceptual intuition, and they both express human values ??and emotions. . And both can issue their own "Heavenly Questions" to the sky, just like Qu Yuan did many years ago. If it is not so appropriate and elegant, then philosophy is the catharsis of reason, just like men enclosure and conquest; literature is the spread of emotions, just like women's flirting and breeding. Therefore, we do not need to think hard about philosophy, nor do we need to be sad about literature. However, as consumers of cultural products, we can point our fingers, because we are consumers, and it is reasonable to give opinions on products, haha. On the other hand, you cannot be so bossy about science unless you are an expert, an expert like Li Zhengdao. Why? The students know it! !

The profundity of such philosophers and the intuition of literati will become more and more widespread before and after the end of the tribulation era. For example, China's May 4th New Culture Movement, the scar literature after the Cultural Revolution, and the famous "Practice is the only criterion for testing truth" in China; for example, in 500 or 600 BC, philosophers from all over the world emerged in large numbers, that At that time, China was in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. It was in constant turmoil and each was in its own battle. So we know about hundreds of schools of thought including Confucius, Mencius, Laozi, and Zhuangzi. Ancient Greece was no exception. The Academy of Athens was not peaceful. Think of the Greco-Persian War and the Peloponnese War. Just start a war and you will know.

For another example, the long-divided Germany has created people like Kant (Kant's king was called "King Wu" and was obviously good at fighting) and Hegel (who had seen Napoleon and fought with a broken wheel. Hegel For this reason, the German term "world spirit on horseback" was coined), a series of world-famous philosophers, and the same is true for the philosophers before and after World War I and World War II, which naturally includes the famous obscure German philosopher Heidegger, in my opinion, Heidegger may be the last philosopher so far. Of course, I am not talking about Wittgenstein who can build a house (he was a technical school classmate with the big devil Hitler, and there are still photos of him preserved. If you want to see it, I can send it to you, haha! You know how powerful the spirit of the times is - the picture was posted at the end of this article by the invisible hero.) He is not a famous philosopher. However, today's European and American philosophy, since pragmatism hopes to take the "scientific" path (in fact, insists on "researching the realization of value" as a strategic path, which is similar to economics), has basically broken away from its own territory. . However, it is precisely for this reason that today’s pragmatist “philosophy” can spread its ghosts all over the world. For example, today's American philosophy, including the famous philosopher Searle, has chosen a philosophical research orientation to study brain problems. It seems that it no longer belongs to philosophy at all but to science, because science that studies instrumental rationality will never belong to research. The philosophy of value rationality (someone at Tsinghua University is also collaborating with Searle on research, which is fun).

Going further, many smart Chinese sociologists have actually clearly seen the particularity of sociology, alerted by the tragic experiences of senior sociologists such as Wu Jingchao and Wu Wenzao. Renmin University of China Professor Zhou Xiaozheng declared that sociology is not a science, but a discipline. He hit the nail on the head and pointed out a broad road for the survival and development of sociology that can ensure long-term stability and ensure "harmony." Another professor at Renmin University, named Zheng Hangsheng, declared more directly that the purpose of sociological research is to achieve the healthy functioning of society. This clearly tells people that sociology does not need and cannot hide its own values, otherwise it will be very difficult. It is easy to become or degenerate into a philosophy about society. Their understanding is not to belittle sociology, but actually to turn the tide. It is to lead sociology to transform from studying "value truth" to studying "instrumental truth" A leader on the road. However, there are many sociologists who are not familiar with the world and oppose this. They are sociologists who really do not understand society.