A New Study On Zhang Taiyan's Philosophy

Before Chinese philosophy has its own modern systematical creation in 1930s, Zhang Taiyan is thought to be the deepest philosopher.However,for various reasons, studies on Zhang's philosophy,especially his later philosophy,are insufficient.This article stresses on later Zhang's philosophy(after the year of 1906).It aims to show how Zhang Taiyan proves,damages and exceeds the fundamental principle of modernity,say subjectivity principle,from his Thusness-philosophy by constructing, criticizing and rethinking the items in construction of Chinese modernity,in order to show the complexity of Chinese modernity in one hand,to discuss the philosophical basis of modernity with Zhang as an example from another hand.After 1906 Zhang Taiyan establishes the Thuessness-philosophy with "Yi Zi Bu Yi Ta"(depending on oneself,not on others)(依自不依他) as the basic principle.It establishes principle of subjectivity,which includes a series of modern ideas,such as "progress","competition","science","democracy","equality","self' & utopia ideal. They both are items of subjective construction and some kind of deployment of Chinese modernity.The Thusness-philosophy basically absorbs Yogocara,Chinese Buddhism,western philosophy,including Kantian philosophy,and Zhuangzi philosophy etc..Such philosophy has the characteristics of strong subjectivity,the Thusness-substance's universality & inherency,and relativism,as well as the deflection of the intensity within the thought,because of integrity of the thought sources,and solipsism.These traits run through the Zhang's reflection of modern ideas items in subjectivity.They give Zhang's reflection insight and inner intensity, and bring the failure of subjectivity principles.In the modern ideas items,"progress" is the world view and history outlook background in which subjectivity deploys itself.Zhang,from Thusness-philosophy, destructs the inevitability dimension and teleology elements which progress presupposes and criticizes determinism in it.However,his critical isn't without any problem just as we think usually,because Zhang misunderstands Kantian philosophy and confuses Chinese Buddhism and Indian Buddhism.It is Qi Wu(齐物) philosophy that wants to displace the philosophy of progress.It affirms the value of everybody and every civilization.Qi Wu(齐物) philosophy is a new type of historical philosophy and its essence is to saving subjectivity,just like the critical to progress.But problems such as solipsism still puzzles Qi Wu(齐物) philosophy.Not only is "competition" the motivation of subjective principle,but also the realization and representation of subjective initiative.On the one hand the Thusness-philosophy argues for competition,on the other hand its relativism trait denies its validity. "Science" points to epistemological and methodological dimension of the deployment of subjective principle.The Thusness-philosophy argues for the inevitability of science by absorbing Kantian philosophy.At the same time it denies the objectivity of body and the existence of rules."Democracy" and "equality" are political and moral dimension of the deployment of subjective principle.The Thusness-philosophy argues for direct democracy and the equality of everything.However,its trend of solipsism constricts democracy and destroys equality.The subjective principle must include subject and object.The Thusness-philosophy establishes "self" and modern personality.And it supports the Wu Jin Yuan Qi theory(all depending all theory)("无尽缘起"说) of Huayen Philosophy(华严宗),which includes elements beyond solipsism.So the Thusness-philosophy has two controversial trends,one is individualism,the other is bad collectivism.Because of the bad development of subjectivity,Zhang uses Wu Sheng theory(lifeless theory)(无生主义) as the new type of "utopia".Such type remains subjective thinking,that is to say,identity thinking,while it denies subject absolutely.The Thusness-philosophy couldn't argue for modern subjective principle at last, which seems to disclose the paradox in modernity on the one hand,and to foretell that time needs new philosophy.