Intellectuals in times of crisis

This book examines the subtle, uplifting, and sometimes violent thoughts and sentiments of mid-20th-century intellectuals—Chen Yinke, Tang Junyi, Hu Shi, Hu Feng, Yin Haiguang, Hong Yaoxun, and others—as they faced the split between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party and the Cold War crisis, and the political and ethical consequences they had to bear. Superficial characterizations of left or right, avant-garde or conservative, do not adequately capture their mental journeys, nor do they necessarily point to a logical progression. It is precisely because of this that their attempts and setbacks are all the more breathtaking.

Looking back at the mid-20th century, what challenges and choices did contemporary intellectuals face? When both the New Left and quintessential Chinese scholars in mainland China simultaneously echoed the political theology of the far right; when Taiwan's democratic elites manipulated populist appeals; and when progressives revived the anti-communist and anti-Russian spirit of the past, was this an opportunity for a new era or a crisis? Were intellectuals ever-searching pioneers, critical critics determined to assert themselves, or cynics willing to accept anything to achieve their goals?

2023-12-01

政大出版社

National Chengchi University Luo Jialun International Sinology Lecture Series

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9786269766871