Year: 2009

The Debate between Science and Metaphysics in Educational Modernization: The Case of Zhang Junmai

Enlightenment & the Spirit of Freedom2009.12.30
The Debate between Science and Metaphysics in Educational Modernization: The Case of Zhang Junmai
【Abstract】To define the “Science-CXuan debate” in China’s modernization process as either a dispute between the ancient and the modern, or between East and West, misses the point. The Science-CXuan debate reflects a certain tension internal to the process of modernization itself. What the Xuanxue faction, represented by Zhang Junmai, was proposing was precisely the demand of modernization, or “enlightenment.” At the core of enlightenment lies the education of national character, the cultivation of a free will. What Zhang Junmai was concerned with was not whether science could explain a worldview, but how to cultivate and establish a new worldview. And the establishment of a new worldview, or a new culture,…
China education paper human nature
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2009年12月30日
On the Intrinsic Reasons for the Integration of the Mathematical-Traditional and Experimental Traditions

History of Science & Scholarship2009.12.28
On the Intrinsic Reasons for the Integration of the Mathematical-Traditional and Experimental Traditions
Sender: EPR (Gu Bu | JOKER | Pingtian Dasheng | the homebody who wants to become the Pirate King), Board: KXTS标　 Subject: My own conjecture about the second essay question Posting site: Peking University Weiming BBS (2009-12-28 22:20:24, Monday), internal message This year’s short-answer questions were relatively easy. The first essay question was a homework problem from previous years, and the third homework question was fairly open-ended. Only the second question was especially difficult; I was completely stumped by it at first. Still, it is quite interesting. Although I didn’t set the question, I also want to try to guess at a possible line of thought. First, the question asks…
science philosophy of science Scientific Revolution knowledge
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2009年12月28日
Notes from Today’s Xindao Salon, 09-12-26

Life & Notes2009.12.26
Notes from Today’s Xindao Salon, 09-12-26
Last week was all normal; there just wasn’t much of anybody and nothing much going on, so I won’t record it. Next week will also continue as usual. Today, Guawang brought along a classmate. Though there weren’t many people, the discussion was still quite lively. We talked about the relationship between elites and the masses—whether some new idea becomes widespread because the public blindly follows a small number of authorities? We also mentioned the “pleasure machine (brain in a vat),” the choice between love and chemical substances? purpose and meaning, scientism, paradigm shifts, sympathy, departmental divisions… I don’t remember the specifics for the moment; I’ll fill them in again in…
everyday life the masses scientism elite
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2009年12月26日
09-12-24 Walking on the Ice of Weiming Lake

Life & Notes2009.12.25
09-12-24 Walking on the Ice of Weiming Lake
Back when I was an undergraduate, I used to wander around Weiming Lake every few days. Over the past two years I’ve clearly become lax about it—not because I’ve gotten lazy (laziness has always been my constant), but because of changes in my surroundings and in my state of mind, I suppose. Of course, the change of residence is the main reason. I had long planned to return to Weiming Lake. By “return,” I mean not only finding time to come back and circle it, but also, crucially, circling it in a particular frame of mind. Though I haven’t exactly never gone around it during ordinary times, I also haven’t…
everyday life blog ritual
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2009年12月25日
Grades and Comments on the First Question of the Second Assignment in General History of Science

Teaching & Courses2009.12.13
Grades and Comments on the First Question of the Second Assignment in General History of Science
(The topic was a self-devised one on the relationship between the Scientific Revolution and Christianity.) 00846142 90 Viewing it from the standpoint of a believer is not bad, but you should also keep in mind that this is a paper on history of science, and should first and foremost engage closely with the “Scientific Revolution” and the relevant historical context. The paper’s argument is not very clear overall and is rather essayistic in style, but it does grasp some key points. The attitude is serious, and it feels pretty good. The bibliography is a little thin; among books on science and religion, The Soul of Science is not really a…
history of science course Scientific Revolution Christianity
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2009年12月13日
Notes from Today’s New Island Salon 09-12-12

Life & Notes2009.12.12
Notes from Today’s New Island Salon 09-12-12
Today B brought a little report, first talking about the theory of “subculture,” then briefly mentioning Weber, and we played a few rounds of Three Kingdoms Kill. Although a small turnout is normal, the recent salons do seem to be slipping into something of a lull. With the end of the term looming, let’s see whether this semester can manage one last dying burst of brilliance…… There are still a little over five hundred yuan left on the New Island membership card; what should we do after it’s used up? Today’s sightings here: byz/dr Possible topic for next time: “The Age of Enlightenment” Latest Comments Cheng Shan 2009-12-12 18:24:37 The…
everyday life Aristotle The Two Cultures salon
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2009年12月12日
Jottings from Today’s New Island Salon 09-12–5

Life & Notes2009.12.05
Jottings from Today’s New Island Salon 09-12–5
Last week’s salon took a break once; starting this week, it’s back to normal. However, today no one came to cough… Latest Comments benjaminbai 2009-12-06 06:05:44 Anonymous 219.234.81.110 [Reply] I’ll go next week~ Just in time to start preparing Fei-ge’s paper on religious anthropology. If I get it done before Saturday, I’ll present that one… probably Weber. By the way, there’s also a sociology paper on subculture that I finished writing this week, and I could show that as well… I feel like I haven’t been there in ages Asura 2009-12-07 19:40:07 Anonymous 118.229.147.153 [Reply] I’d like to go too. I wonder what will be discussed next time; could you…
everyday life sociology faith anthropology
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2009年12月5日
Miscellaneous Notes from the Nanning Phenomenology and Philosophy of Technology Conference I

History of Science & Scholarship2009.12.02
Miscellaneous Notes from the Nanning Phenomenology and Philosophy of Technology Conference I
Last week’s salon was suspended because I ran off to attend this conference instead (next week, of course, it will resume as usual). This was, in a sense, the first formal academic conference I have ever attended in my life—so I suppose I went to broaden my horizons. From a purely academic standpoint, the conference wasn’t very interesting. But of course, as I see it, the so-called academic conference is first and foremost socializing, second tourism, third scholarship; and in some conferences, the effects in terms of fame and profit are even higher up the list. Our conference, however one looks at it, still had some academic payoff. As for…
phenomenology intentionality conference review
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2009年12月2日
November 2009 Nanning Phenomenology and Philosophy of Technology Photo Album

History of Science & Scholarship2009.12.01
November 2009 Nanning Phenomenology and Philosophy of Technology Photo Album
http://www.ycool.com/photo.php?uid=1062487&paid=1307001 Posting the link first; I’ll organize it later。。。
scholarship phenomenology Introduction to Philosophy of Technology conference review
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2009年12月1日
Notes from Today’s Xindao Salon, 09-11-21 [The Next Session May Be Paused Once]

Life & Notes2009.11.21
Notes from Today’s Xindao Salon, 09-11-21 [The Next Session May Be Paused Once]
Today’s salon was quite lively after a long time. Besides dr, three web friends also came, and the long-absent xxj classmate made a splendid passing appearance~ Besides the eat-melon king (Institute for History of Natural Sciences, CAS) classmate, today’s two new friends were respectively from the computer science department of Forestry University and the School of Philosophy at Renmin University. Welcome, welcome—clap clap clap~ Besides chatting idly, as originally planned, I talked a bit about McLuhan; the effect is unknown… We also brought up the question of the meaning of philosophical thinking, and I still use games as a metaphor: for example, you have a box in your hands, and…
philosophy everyday life McLuhan human nature
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2009年11月21日