Xuelin Essays | Don't Simply "Restore" the Controversy between China and the West to the Controversy of Ancient and Modern Times
In the new era and new journey, to better shoulder the new cultural mission, it is necessary to grasp the following three principles:
Firstly, establish a correct view on the relationship between Chinese and Western civilizations.
Since modern times, the comparison of Chinese and Western civilizations has gradually unfolded with the touch of Chinese and Western civilizations. However, whether it is "learning as the body, Western learning as the application" or "comprehensive Westernization theory", they unconsciously "restore" the dispute between China and the West to a certain extent as a dispute between ancient and modern times, replacing the spatial and regional differences with differences in time and history.
If people accept the position of Western modernization without criticism, it is easy to conclude that Chinese civilization is applicable to pre industrial or pre modern societies and loses its effectiveness in such societies.
We should firmly oppose equating the relationship between Chinese and Western civilizations with the relationship between ancient and modern civilizations, let alone mechanically arranging Chinese and Western civilizations in chronological order. Instead, we should consider and integrate them horizontally based on differences in categories, firmly adhering to the subjectivity of Chinese culture.
Therefore, Chinese path to modernization is a modernization that really continues the ancient civilization, rather than a modernization that eliminates the ancient civilization.
Secondly, abandon the "objectivist stance" on Chinese culture.
Some people suggest that one should hold a "thorough objectivist stance" towards traditional Chinese culture. When facing traditional Chinese culture, any subjective explanatory factors should be completely or as much as possible eliminated.
Not to mention whether this "complete objectivism" can be fully realized, it is not advisable to simply separate traditional Chinese culture from the current reality of China. It seems to maintain a certain purity of Chinese culture, but in reality, it treats Chinese culture as a "ancient artifact" and puts it on the shelf, which is not conducive to the continuation and development of civilization.
In the new era and new journey, we must continuously provide rational and evidence-based innovative interpretations of Chinese civilization, and fully utilize the precious resources of excellent Chinese culture in a broader cultural space. This is one of the best ways to maintain, inherit, and promote the excellent historical and cultural heritage of China.
As a result, Chinese path to modernization is a modernization that really grows out of China, rather than copying the modernization of other countries.
Thirdly, get rid of a simple either or attitude.
Some people have proposed that either based on Chinese culture, we should reform the basic principles of Marxism to "view the present from the past"; Either by using the basic principles of Marxism as a reference template, we can reconstruct Chinese culture, which is to "use the present to preserve the past.".
Strictly speaking, both of these practices are in a sense of cutting feet to fit shoes. The second combination is not a simple physical reaction, but a profound chemical reaction. This means that we need to systematically and organically examine the interactive relationship between Marxism and the essential elements of the history of Chinese civilization, and provide solutions based on careful analysis of the conditions for the dual internal integration.
As a result, Chinese path to modernization is the result of real civilization renewal, rather than the product of civilization rupture.