Philosophy, Science, and Common Sense

"Philosophy, Science, and Common Sense" is one of Chen Jiaying's representative works, a book that is both a review of humanity's intellectual journey throughout history and an inquiry into the essence of human beings and knowledge.
Humanity's efforts to explain the world began with myths and witchcraft, followed by philosophy and science. It was only after overcoming countless difficulties that heliocentrism, Newtonian mechanics, evolution, and quantum physics were achieved, making science the ultimate arbiter of "truth." On one hand, people often reflect on why science has achieved such success. Given that people experience the same world, why did science only emerge in Europe? On the other hand, we have also paid a price for the success of science: in using science to approach "truth," the human spirit has been excluded from the realm of truth. In the grand edifice of science, built on mathematical and experimental thought, there is no place for human good or evil, joy or sorrow—is science truly the complete answer to this world? As people explore the path of science, they sometimes find themselves wondering whether our understanding of the world is deepening or deviating. Is it truly as Laozi said, "The pursuit of knowledge increases daily, the pursuit of the Way decreases daily"? Beyond science, is there another path to seeking the Way?
"Philosophy, Science, and Common Sense" is Chen Jiaying's retrospective from the forefront of human cognitive development: a return to our original intention in seeking truth: are we seeking to explore unknown territories and expand the boundaries of human understanding? Or are we seeking to understand the world we inhabit, to resolve confusion in the complex human world, and to live better lives?

2018-03-01

中信出版社

New Thought Culture

370

9787508671079