Study Of Chinese Intellectuals In The Context Of Modernization

Chinese intellectuals were born during the May 4th New Culture Movement. In the course of their growth western rationalistic tradition, Chinese Confucian culture and Marxism played the important roles. Western rationalistic tradition enabled Chinese intellectuals to develop their independent consciousness and abandon the desire for politics and the dilemma between government and public which the ancient Chinese scholar-bureaucrats possessed. However, in contemporary China the coexistence of modernity and post-modernity make Chinese intellectuals hesitate about their self-orientation. Chinese traditional culture about Dao embedded a strong sense of historical responsibility and great zeal for politics in Chinese intellectuals. Although the spirit of protest of Chinese intellectuals'unfolded in history, the selflessness has always been the barrier to Chinese intellectuals to set up their independent personality. Marxism molded Chinese intellectuals into the important forces of proletarian revolution and the building of socialism modernizations. Because of the deviation from Marxism esp. Marx's theory, coupled with the inertia of Chinese traditional culture, the Chinese Communist Party didn't fully realize the importance and value of Chinese intellectuals. As a result Chinese intellectuals led a turbulent life for years. Ever since Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, the Chinese Communist Party has gotten to realize the importance of Chinese intellectuals and give political recognition and trust to Chinese intellectuals, which enabled Chinese intellectuals to be engaged in the construction of Chinese modernizations and the development of Chinese society. Now as three cultures'joint effect the image of Chinese intellectuals is becoming complex during the social transformation period. In contemporary China what we need eagerly, what we should construct and what we ought to foster are public intellectuals. The history of Chinese intellectuals has showed us the necessity and the social transformation offers the possibility.