Study On Li Gou’s Neo-utilitarianism Economic Thought

With the title of Study on Li Gou’s Neo-utilitarianism Economic Thought, this dissertation analyzes and researches the economic ethics ideas, economic ideas on the agriculture-commerce relations, economic financing ideas, livelihood-based economic ideas of Li Gou’s neo-utilitarianism and the historical resonance and realistic referential significance of his economic thought, mainly from the background perspective of the economic and social development in the Transformation Period of the Tang and Song Dynasties and through longitudinal study and horizontal analysis.From the view of economic thought history, the occurrence of Li Gou’s neo-utilitarianism economic thought conforms to the internal development logical process of Chinese ancient economic thought and is determined by the basic course and the objective requirement of the social, economic and cultural development of the Transformation Period during the later Tang Dynasty and early Song Dynasty. As the first thinker having raised waves in the economic thoughts in the early Northern Song Dynasty, Li Gou can be rated as the forerunner of neo-utilitarianism economic thoughts. Therefore, it is of important historic significance and realistic values to research and probe into Li Gou’s neo-utilitarianism economic thought.First, the dissertation Prolegomenon elaborates the topic selection values, the research significance and the current research status quo. The period of the Tang and Song Dynasties is a time of major transformation in the Chinese traditional society and the occurrence of Li Gou’s neo-utilitarianism economic thought is in essence the profound reflection of new developments and new changes in the then social and economic transformations. The analysis of the features of the transformation period from the Tang Dynasty to the Song Dynasty can result in the newer, more comprehensive and more systematic knowledge of Li Gou’s neo-utilitarianism economic thought. Furthermore, the analysis can also reveal the changes of people’s economic thought concepts and the development of economic thoughts in the process of the social development and transition of the Tang and Song Dynasties.Chapter One Transformation of the Tang and Song Dynasties and the Transformation of Economic Thoughts discusses the influence and functions on Li Gou’s neo-utilitarianism economic thought by the economic and cultural development and the transformation of economic thoughts in the Tang and Song Dynasties. The analysis is focused on the development of commercial economy and the prosperity of academics and cultures. Analysis is also made on the historic background and times features of the Transformation of the Tang and Song Dynasties, the fundamental causes of the transformation, the evolution of the righteousness-profit relation thoughts, the evolution of agriculture-commerce relation thoughts, the occurrence of neo-utilitarianism and Li Gou’s life course and thinking path etc. It is pointed out that the occurrence of Li Gou’s neo-utilitarianism economic thought fully reflects the academic characteristics and styles of cultural inheritance and criticism and double care in the transformation period of the Tang and Song Dynasties. At the same time, Li Gou’s neo-utilitarianism economic thought is innovative and plays a significant role in leading the thoughts development of future generations.Chapter Two The Economic Ethics Ideas of Li Gou’s Neo-utilitarianism elaborates his neo-utilitarianism economic ethics ideas through analyzing the evolution of the Chinese ancient economic ethics thoughts. With the Human Theoiy, the Change Theory and the Rite Theory as the philosophical basis of his neo-utilitarianism economic ethics ideas, Li Gou establishes the righteousness-profit double value outlook featured by emphasizing utilitarianism and practicing both righteousness and benefit through debating their relations. Through criticizing Buddhist ideas, he puts forward the pragmatic theory of studying the problems for realistic applications and he presents the theory of protecting the rich through arguing for the rich. Thus, Li Gou forms his neo-utilitarianism economic ethics ideas with rich characteristics.Chapter Three The Agriculture-commerce Economic Ideas of Li Gou’s Neo-utilitarianism illustrates, based on the analysis of the evolution of the Chinese ancient economic thoughts on agriculture and commerce relations, the farming-based economic ideas with strengthening the essential and curbing the nonessential as the core and the commerce economic ideas with the theory of enriching the country with commerce as the core. His ideas on farming and commerce relations emphasize the farming but not curbing the commerce development featured by emphasizing both and their mutual complementarity and mutual benefits.Chapter Four The Financing Economic Ideas of Li Gou’s Neo-utilitarianism discusses problems in the financing practice of the Northern Song Dynasty based on the evolution of the Chinese ancient financing culture. It is pointed out that the Northern Song Dynasty shoulders heavy financial burdens and can not make both ends meet. It continues to extort excessive taxes and levies on its peasants and is already in the accumulated poor and weak situation. In view of the realistic social problems, Li Gou establishes his system of financing economic ideas with rich features and practical values based on the views of the theory of enriching the nation with financing, the theory of raising the people with financing and enriching the nation without excessive taxes on the ordinary.Chapter Five The Livelihood Economic Ideas of Li Gou’s Neo-utilitarianism illustrates the evolution of the Chinese ancient livelihood economic thoughts and the basic views and features of Li Gou’s livelihood economic ideas. In conformity with the logical route of worshiping the heaven, respecting the virtues and protecting the people of the Chinese ancient thinkers, Li Gou puts forward a series of livelihood policies and measures such as curing the nation and saving the people, making the nation healthy and relieving the people and enriching the nation and benefiting the people etc. The livelihood economic ideas are the highlight of Li Gou’s neo-utilitarianism economic thought.Last but not least, Chapter Six Conclusion and Enlightenment stresses the inevitable existence of class limitations and historic limitations with rich idealism in Li Gou’s neo-utilitarianism economic thought due to subjective and objective reasons. There are insufficiency and defects in many of his theoretic points. However, it is clear and should be recognized that Li Gou’s academic features of solving problems for realistic applications and the rich theoretic system of economic thought exerts long-term and profound impact on the development and evolution of Chinese economic thoughts after the Song Dynasty. Many aspects of his experience and enlightenment leave behind precious spiritual heritages to succeeding generations, which is still of important referential significance to the building of today’s socialist market economy.