Hu Shi And Marxism During The May Fourth Movement

HuShi is one of important figures in China's modern idea of the history.During the May Fourth Movement,HuShi ushered pragmatism into China as a scientific method,applied this approach to academic and social fields to promote the revolutionary literature and social improvement.At the initiative of HuShi,pragmatism thought quickly dominated the circle of China.After the outbreak of the Russian Revolution,Marxism as a trend of thought also went into the advanced intellectuals' vision.Pragmatism and Marxism both are the most widely circulated major Western ideas,During the May Fourth Movement,but two trends of thought is not acceptable synchronized.Pragmatism for its strong doubts and anti-feudal spirit,was very popular in the early New Culture Movement.And Marxism in the late May Fourth Movement began to spread.This article on historical materialism and dialectical materialism as a guide,Based on development of HuShi and Marxism,the article makes the literary revolution as a starting point and Chinese Communists set up as the end,and studies the transference of the right to speak in this period.Besides,combined with the right to the process,it also explores that mutual cognition and relations between HuShi and Marxist in different forces comparison.With failure of the Revolution in 1911,feudal parties disregard of democratic republic. Thus,at the demand for anti-feudal struggle,the vast number of intellectuals hoped that through learn from western sociology to seek a way for Chinese.Pragmatism and Marxism itself with anti-feudal and anti-authoritarian nature is able to adapt to the needs of the society. In 1917,HuShi with literary theory to save his country returned,and the Russian Revolution brought Marxism to the Chinese people,so the two meet under the same time and space,and began their journey.However,at the beginning,they had a strikingly different trend:the formation of HuShi's halo effect and the originator of Marxism's Butterfly Effect.Through the literary revolution,with the right to speak at hand,HuShi attracted many friends and followers,such as Chen Duxiu,Li Dazhao,Mao Zedong,Fu Sinian,etc.However,this single-driven model,did not last longer.With the practice of salvation,the spread and expansion of Marxism,with the China's propaganda and encouragement of the United States Dewey,the intellectuals' conception and practice of society that Works and studies Mutual Aided on disabilities,etc,it resulted two sides influence:on the one hand,HuShi and Marxism had more and more contacts,such as the discussion between problem and Marxism by a result of the distinction and communicate,the HuShi's recognition to Marxism"in the stage applauded",the rescue of the"new thought",the transfer of the right to speak.On the other hand,the domestic part of HuShi's followers suddenly turned to Marxism,and were bound to become a Marxist faithful guardian.HuShi had always adhered to his own"isms"to promote experimental philosophy,advocate recycling path of civilization for national salvation and the evolution of society bit by bit improved.In this process,there are large differences between HuShi and Marxism at the guidance of in practice on Chinese society,such as the fundamental transformation,class struggle. Pragmatism advocated social transformation bit by bit,and Marxism was in favor of fundamental social change,which is contradiction between the two mainly reflected in China. But objectively,the pragmatism promoted the spread of the Marxist.Pragmatism took the lead in the anti-feudal,set path for Marxism,and its"realistic"urged young students to accept the spirit of Marxism.While pragmatism studied the practical question also promote the process of Marxism in China.Moreover controversy between Marxism and pragmatism also led to the spread of Marxism.HuShi showed identity and differences to Marxism,and the early Marxist also showed endorsement to HuShi.Although even if the experimental approach had been practice and indirectly promoted the spread of Marxism,the"new youth"literate groups eventually disintegrated for the different path on salvation.Of course,we can not consider whether HuShi accepted Marxism as a standard to evaluate his merits and demerits.Hushi has always advocated an"experimental spirit",and ever defined"Chinese Renaissance"as"a conscious attempt."His thought together with Marxism,is a part of this attempt,and his practice to national salvation,just for the same purpose but in different way.