The Chinese Dilemmas Of Democracy In The Modern Time

Liang Shu-ming is a distinctive thinker in the Chinese history of modern thought. His thoughts cover a wide range concerning the politics, culture, philosophy, society, psychology and religion, etc. Since the Opium War, China undergoes the great change, the politics and the social order run into crisis. The Chinese people turn to the west to seek for the reconstruction of the social order. They experience the change from the industry (the Westernization movement) to the hierarchy of system (the Reform Movement of 1898 and the 1911 Revolution), and at last to the hierarchy of culture (the New Culture Event). Although most of the persons from political area and knowledge industry regard Democracy as the key method to save our nation and country, the movements of democracy were failed. Liang Shu-ming, using the view of cultural comparison, get the conclusion that it is a impossible way to copy the western democracy under the Chinese traditional culture and social structure. This essay, basing on modern point of view, tries to comprehend the difficulty of democracy in China, the reasonable value of Liang's"anti-modernization"theory and the enlightenment of Liang Shu-ming's theories on modern- political development. It is the purpose for writing this essay.Western democratic theory and practice have several thousand years of history. It shows differences aspects during differences periods. Liberal democratic theory was generally acknowledged to be modern democratic system of the Western Construction of the greatest impact theory in the democratic modals. In fact, when the spread of freedom and democracy to China, In particular, in the period of Republic of China, it also played a role guide. In contemporary, Pluralism as a demonstration of the important theory of democracy, it is not only free and democratic theory inherited the respect for individual liberty and the pursuit of equal qualifications, and achieving the core concept of checks and balances at the same time that the former manifestations of "empty" and "idealistic" and other defects. It is precisely because of such considerations, this paper uses pluralistic democracy as a theory of perspective. Recalling the thought and political realities of the period of Republic of China, on the one hand, as far as possible to respect history, the other trying to reflect on this attitude of a rational understanding of the historical limitations. In the content, pluralistic democracy changed the theory of the past "to the power constraints of power" way of thinking, and replace it with "social constraints of power." At the same time, pluralist democracy theory emphasizes the conditions of democracy. Generally speaking, it includes two aspects: internal conditions and external conditions. Internal conditions (inherent equality) and other external conditions (the "critical condition" and the "favorable conditions") in the process of development of democratic politics is to achieve democracy by the various conditions required by the process.In contrast, Liang Shu-ming's democratic ideas, is from "Will" as the core philosophy based on the concept, relying on Buddhist metaphysics of the theoretical system, through cultural and social comparison theory, as the logic of its democratic approach roads. His theory is very special.He has awareness to put the issue into the specific historical background and social environment, especially in the economic environment. His conception of democracy is built on the model and way of thinking. It helps us to understand his ideas from the study contribute to a deeper level of analysis and perspective on his unique understanding of the issue of democracy.Liang Shu-ming's conception of democracy was also reflected China intellectual understanding of the limitations of democracy. As a"spiritual tendencies of democracy", it includes the Western freedom, human rights, equality and the value of democracy. It can be said that, it carries the burden of too much. The theory of modern democracy is one pair of "democracy" contenting "reducing the burden" on the process. The limitation of knowledge becomes a dilemma of democracy. In addition, Liang Shu-ming considers that traditional Chinese political culture is "on the negative political inability." At the same time, the social fabric of traditional Chinese culture is not conducive to modern political consciousness, the old political culture and social structure of the detention of democratic ideas, the spirit of democracy in China generated, it has become China's democratic development in the spirit of dilemma. Finally, the old China, the political situation of disorder seriously hampering the democratic development of external conditions. Liang Shu-ming clearly understands that the social order is the remodeling of all other activities to be carried out as a basic guarantee. Old China by the lack of democracy needs the kind of orderly, open, tolerant social conditions. This is the reality dilemma of democracy.Solve China's road of democratization of the three major dilemmas. Everyone needs to reflect on the problems and responsibilities. Intellectual provide intellectual support, the general public a modern civic awareness, commitment to the rulers of safeguarding social well-run democratic development and the creation of the external conditions of responsibility. Knowledge and the deepening of the political culture in relief, the reality of reform, the system can combine the three constitute a means to transcend the plight of the three, we are just doing a macro superficial theory scenario. In fact, the Confucian civilization in the modern conditions also need democratic institutions. Confucian philosophy request to become a moral principal, as a "virtue" exist, it is the pursuit of moral utopia, but only in a democratic system, the only real space for the development of personal virtue. Neo-Confucianism fusion of modern Western culture in the open, tolerance factor. Therefore, it may also grow by Confucian culture under the influence of the democratization of the political community and cultural foundation. Why the universal values of democracy was under the influence of Confucian China acceptable to the community, the process of modernization of China's social How to build a modern democratic culture required by the environment? Of the realization of democracy is not only by thinkers such as Liang Shu-ming kept thinking, but also future generations of people must continue to pursue the topic!...