| Metaphilosophy is the philosophy that studies on philosophy itself. Everything that is related to philosophy will be the subject of metaphilosophy. To research philosophy, one should first understand philosophy itself. Therefore, researching metaphilosophy is the premise for researching other philosophy branches. Just like other philosophers, Karl Jaspers has taken a very deep thinking of it, and come up with his own unique thoughts. Jaspers' metaphilosophy has taken a great part in his ideological system. It is a cornerstone for us to understand his whole ideological system and a key to open the gate of his system.Although his metaphilosophy has taken such an important position in his system, researchers of Jaspers both in and outside our country don't pay much attention to it. There isn't a single research monograph till recent days. This dissertation starts with some of Jaspers' works. The author systemizes, analyzes, evaluates and compares Jaspers' ideas on metaphilosophy, hoping that the researchers of Jaspers would pay more attention of this subject. Thus, we can push forward the overall study of Jaspers' philosophy.This article is divided into nine parts. The followings are the main cocntents:"Introduction" mainly studies the history, charateristic, research topics and research methods of metaphilosophy. It also researches the relationship between metaphilosophy and some other philosophy branches, such as metaphysics. Metaphilosophy, as a branch of philosophy, was formally formed in the 1960s. It is given the nature of guidance, basis, commonality, transcendence, and originality. Among these characteristics, originality is the most important one. Metaphilosophy mainly researches the nature of philosophy, philosophical subject-matters, types of philosophy, the function of philosophy, the significance of philosophy and the brief introduction of philosophy branches. "What is philosophy" is the principle and basic question.Its method is a more rational way than philosophical reason. Metaphilosophy is the premise and basic of metaphysics; metaphysics is the object for metaphilosophy to study.Chapterâ… mainly introduces and researches some historical philosophers' ideas on "what is philosophy" before metaphilosophy came into being. Before we start to research, we should first differentiate between "philosophy is what" and "what is philosophy". The former one asks what philosophy is in fact; yet the latter is about what philosophy should be. It's a relationship between nature and appearance, characteristic and content. But in daily language, it is hardly differentiated. Then, we inspect the original meaning of philosophy in etymology. In the old days, people around the world think the same that philosophy is wisdom and the love and pursuit for wisdom. Somehow, wisdom is different from knowledge. Knowledge is finite and it can be occupied; wisdom is infinite, and it is for people to love. In the end, we introduce opinions of western philosophers like Hegel, Marx, Russel and modern Chinese philosophers like Hu Shi, Feng Youlan, on "what is philosophy".Chapterâ…¡mainly introduces and researches some philosophers' opinions and several kinds of view towards the basic topics of philosophy in the history. Then we explain Jaspers' opinions on "what is philosophy" and the basic topics of philosophy. At last, we introduce our own opinions on "what is philosophy". If the quesetion is analyzed in a different perspective, "what is philosophy" can be transformed into the question of "what is the object of philosophy", and the most important question about "what is the object of philosophy" is the question of "what is the basic question of philosophy". To research "what is the basic question of philosophy", we can start with different systems of philosophy, different branches of philosophy, different period and times on the history of philosophy. Nowadays, most of people think the basic topic of philosophy is the question of "the relationship between thinking and existence". But Jaspers took the relationship between reason and existenz as the basic topic of philosophy. He concluded that philosophy was a kind of action that sought for existenz. We insist that philosophy should be the combination of love for wisdom and the learning of wisdom; but in the root, philosophy is more an unceasing love for wisdom.Chapterâ…¢elaborates on Jaspers' ideas on the origin of philosophy, and analyzes them one by one. When he researches the origin of philosophy, Jaspers first differentiated between "beginning" and "source". The former one is a concept of time; it is formed once and for all. The latter one is a concept of existenz, and it is a constant process. Then he pointed out that all philosophy in the history originated from surprise and recognition, doubts and certainty, lost and self-development. Although they are effective, they are not enough. We have to put it under a certain circumstance of human communication. Therefore, Jaspers thought that the ultimate basis of the origin of philosophy started from human being's desire for free communication, which is a need for existenz.Chapterâ…£mainly studies Jaspers' ideas on the relationship between philosophy and science. Thus, the essence of philosophy is revealed from one side. Jaspers first started from analysis of the status quo of philosophy. He thought that philosophy was mixed up with science. Philosophy had lost his function of seeking for existenz, and philosophy was seen as the pronoun for decadence. He proposed that, in order to create a real philosophy, the relationship between philosophy and science was ought to be made clear. In his opinion, philosophy and science in the first place rely on each other. They are indivisible. Philosophy needs science to supply with all kinds of knowledges; meanwhile, philosophy understands science. The significance of science is shown through the comprehension from philosophy. However, philosophy is not science; they are totally different in the essence. They differ obviously in origin, objects of study, modes of thinking, the characteristics of the research process, the effect of the research. Moreover, philosophic truth and scientific truth are two kinds of different truths. Although philosophy and science differ in essence, they are still inseparable. Therefore, Jaspers suggested that philosophy and science should be integrated together. And this depends on universities, especially the philosophy prefessors giving full play to their abilities. According to Jaspers' unique experience, the last part of this chapter discusses his views on the relationship between philosophy and psychology. On one hand, he demanded to evaluate a philosopher through psychology, for psychology was able to investigate spiritual things in a limited and possible way. On the other hand, he found that psychology couldn't reach the real philosophy ideas, especially those great ideas. In the end, he still insisted to grasp human being's existenz in a philosophical way, namely the way of transcendence.Chapterâ…¤deals mainly with Jaspers' thoughts about the relations between philosophy and religion. Thus he can express his views about the essence of philosophy from another point of view. On one hand, philosophy and religion have connections in that they are initially integrative. Besides they have similarities in many parts, and they are indivisible. However, when analyzed from the essence, they differ greatly in form, implement and the truth value they representing. Moreover, from Jaspers' view, religious belief differs from superstition. Their differences lie in the acceptation of the country or the foundation of the country's system.We shall oppose superstition. Finally, Jaspers believed that philosophy and religion should "coexist in peace".Chapterâ…¥mainly discusses Jaspers' views on the relations among philosophy, politics and daily life which is an organic part of society. Jaspers started from his own experience, he believed that philosophy is life and life is philosophy. They are the same. And that only philosophy can solve the life and social problems. However, there are disharmonious parts between philosophy and life. It is mainly because that philosopher should keep his inner independence. He should not be disturbed by trifles. Instead, he should be ready to reflect and animadvert on the society and real life. As to the relations between philosophy and politics, Jaspers believed that any great philosopher could not break away from political thinking. We shall use the philosophical politics to oppose the blind politics.Chapterâ…¦studies Jaspers' unique points on the history of philosophy. Firstly, as to the relations between philosophy and the history of philosophy, Jaspers believed that they are the same in some sense. Philosophy is the history of philosophy and the history of philosophy is also philosophy. In his researches about the history of philosophy, Jaspers suggested that we should view philosophy history as a whole. Our philosophy thinking should dive into the whole that shows "Existenz". At the same time, from his point of view, research on the history of philosophy is a philosophical thinking. The history of philosophy itself is a form of existenzphilosophy. We must arouse through the history of philosophy of self-thinking. And philosophers are only, unique, and has not irreplaceable. However, it is best that we do some researches about those famous philosophers. Then Jaspers introduced to us six points of view to do the researches on the history of philosophy. They are historical, substantive, accumulation of cultural, practical, dynamical and personal viewpoint. He asked us to combine those six standpoints together to review the history of philosophy. Then he pointed out to us a shortcut to the study of philosophy that is to study on the great philosophers and the masterpieces of philosophy. We hereby mainly research his evaluation criteria about philosophers and his ideas of how to view their thoughts correctly. Finally, we briefly talk about the history of world philosophy Jaspers intends to construct.Chapterâ…§mainly deals with Jaspers' thoughts about the relations between philosophy and man. Jaspers regraded philosophy as a methodology which pursuited "Exiztenz". In essence, that is a pursuit of real existence.From his point of view, the essence of man is what we call "Encompassing". "Existenz" can express itself through man. Philosophy belongs to man in essence. Philosopher must possess the courage to love wisdom, the spirit of freedom and doubt, and the spirit of communication and dialogue.Chapterâ…¨is a simple comparative study between metaphilosophy of Jaspers and Heidegger. Before the comparison, we introduce Heidegger's viewpoints of "what is philosophy". He believed that in essence philosophy was existential. Jaspers' viewpoints about the essence of philosophy are basically consistent with that of Heidegger. Besides, both of them view surprise as an important source of philosophy, and they have basically the same opinions on truth. However, they disagree in philosophical ontology, philosophical methodology, the view of truth and the relations between theology and philosophy.
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