Research On George Bernard Shaw's Creative Evolution Theory

George Bernard Shaw was more a profound philosopher and thinker than just a great British realist playwright, literary critic and socialist activist. In his literary career for nearly 60 years, he wrote 51 outstanding dramas each mirroring a certain social phenomenon of his time as well as his distinctive world outlook and philosophical view. Indeed his thoughts in writing may alter accordingly along with the changes in the historical and social settings of the particular times, and is manifested through philosophical visions handed down traditionally. Therefore, he is recognized among the most famous authors in UK, Europe and all over the world. Meanwhile, thanks to his deployment of skilled techniques for reflection of various historical and social problems, the writer unveiled various corrupt and unfair phenomena of the respective times, thus including in his literary works prominently realistic components and offering the readers both ideological awareness and in-depth cultural feast. His commentaries, political essays, playwrights and other genres of literary works, large in quantity and profound in ideological connotation remain an invaluable spiritual wealth of mankind. Aimed at George Bernard Shaw's unique philosophical views arising from his "creative evolution", on the basis of his prolific literary works, this thesis interprets the representation of "creative evolution" in different historical periods. The whole text comprises three parts:introduction, the body, and conclusion.Part 1:Introduction. First of all the thesis gives a summarized introduction to George Bernard Shaw and states the values to select the title and the reasons, reviews research findings of the great man in history at home and abroad with focused analysis of Chinese researchers'recent studies of him, and goes on to highlight and determine the significance of the research title and the proper access to the research. In the end of this part, the thesis admits the existence of its creativity and insufficiency.Part 2:The body of text. Divided into four chapters, this part expatiates on the gist of the thesis through discussion over the historical background of George Bernard Shaw, the characteristic of his "creative evolution", philosophical link of the theory and its ideological representation.Chapter One:The Historical Background of George Bernard Shaw. In a time of social upheaval and complex ideology, he experienced several marked periods of the British revolution in his living, study and work, and thus was well aware of the social darkness and capitalist drawback. From the discussion in this chapter, it can be seen that his living time, his life and his literary creation are closely related to the emergence and growth of this philosophical ideology.Chapter 2:The Characteristics of George Bernard Shaw's Creative Evolution Theory. This chapter intends to analyze the characteristics from the following perspectives:1. An atheist. He did not believe in any religion but created his own truth-"creative evolution", in the unique historical context.2. Four Elements for the Univeres Genesis. As he did not believe in any of the religions prevailing in his time, he disagreed on such a religious or so-called "scientific" belief that the four elements contributing to the world genesis comprise "earth, water, fire, and wind". Deep in his mind, he held that the universe was composed of "will, life, vitality, and substance".3. Difference from the Darwinian Theory. As far as the term "evolution" is concerned, the modern science might maintain that the Darwin's theory of evolution in biology means "survival of the fittest" and "natural selection". However, George Bernard Shaw did not think that was a scientific interpretation. He applied his own theory to analysis of life and the universe from the perspective on his subjective initiative and in quite a few of his literary works he indicated his viewpoints of the evolutional process and the utmost evolutionary goal.4. Shaping of Feminism. Due to his striking world outlook in the particular historical context, in line with his theory of "creative evolution", he insisted that females played a very crucial role in the evolution of humankind, even more important than males. Through an overview of his dramas, it would be easy to notice his feminist thought fully shown in the female characters of his works as well as his potential insights, from his sincere sympathy for the humiliation and distress most women suffered then and his expectation for female emancipation and their gain of the equal social rights.5. "Superman"-the Form to Terminate Evolution. This chapter informs the readers of George Bernard Shaw's cognition of the conclusion on evolution and of the difference between his evolutionary theory and other theories in evolutionary points and attribution.Chapter 3:The Philosophical Links of George Bernard Shaw's Creative Evolution. Here the researcher gives an introduction to some historical characters who had greatly influenced George Bernard Shaw's shaping of his thought and their philosophical views, such as those of Henri Bergson, Nietzsche, Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, and Samuel Butler, for better understanding, analysis and exposition of the causes for establishment of his theory of "creative evolution".Chapter 4:George Bernard Shaw's Representation of the Creative Evolution Theory. He advocated his theory of creation evolution to a lofty position, as his faith. Formulated the theory on the basis of the Volitionist philosophy and the theory of evolution, his theory of creative evolution was deemed as a philosophical thought. However, it was undoubtedly a thought arising from his kind concern about and deep consideration of the destiny of the society and the humankind. Moreover, it was his hope that the theory of creative evolution, as his exclusive political thought, would make up the limitations of the thought of his Fabianism. Section 1. This chapter starts with the origin of the theory-"vitality". His cognition of the origin of the philosophical thought can be reflected in his political essays such as Quintessence of Ibsenism and his dramas including Candida and Man and Superman; Section 2.Views the characteristics of the carrier for "vitality" selection from the perspective of "knowledge and intelligence"; Section 3. On analysis of the opinions of "superman" in the theory of creative evolution, which is analyzed and discussed using some remarks of the superman in the original literary works.Part Three:Conclusion. The thesis restates the orientation to write up this thesis, emphasizes the significance of the research of George Bernard Shaw's theory of creative evolution, and affirms fully his great, indelible contribution to philosophy, history and culture while pointing out objectively the limitations and comprises of his thoughts and concepts.