Title

“Researched Paradigms” in the Study of Ch’ing Intel lectual History: Their Formation, Characteristics, and Implication

Author

Eugene W. Chiu

Genre

Article  

Pages

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Key words

Research Paradigm, Ch’ing Intellectual History, Liang Ch’i-Ch’ao, Hu Shih, Ch’ien Mu, Yu Ying-shih

Abstract

      Among the studies of all periods of Chinese intellectual history, the studies of intellectual history of the Ch’ing period reach one of the most fruitful achievements interms of the variety of theory and the depth of interpretation. This study aims to review and probe the three most influential theories in the area of Ch’ing intellectual history in 20th century China. They are the theory of “Reaction against Neo-Confucianism” (li-hsueh fan-tung shuo) of Liang Ch’i-Ch’ao (1873-1929) and Hu Shih (1891-1962), the theory of “Accumulation” (mei-chuan i-chin shuo) of Ch’ien Mu (1895-1990), and finally, the theory of “ Inner Logic” (nei-tsai li-lu shuo) of Yu Ying-shih (1930 - ). The present study analyzes the three doctrines in the light of Thomas S. Kuhn’s concept of “paradigms”. Adapting this concept, the stress is on two foci: first, in terms of the structure of theory, the basic contents and characteristics of these three doctrines are examined; and second,in terms of intellectual history, the relationship between the formation of these doctrines and the times which the doctrine-proposes lived in are scrutinized with a view towards evolving the fundamental meaning between the two.