Bertrand Russel And The Thoughts Of Social Reform In The May4th Movement

The English scholar Bertrand Russel is a versatile thinker. He has establishedtheories in many fields,such as philosophy, mathematics and logics. He gives detailedanalysis of the fundamental principles of social development, and he offersthought-provoking understanding of capitalism. To Russel, Guild Socialism is the bestand the most feasible social system. Under the macro-environment of the vigoroussocial reform during the May Fourth period, Russel’ thoughts on social reform havebeen widely spreaded in China with his related masterpieces being translated,Principles of Social Reconstruction and political ideals in particular. In Oct,1920,Betrand Russel was invited by Fu Tong&Liang Qichao and so on to hold talks onScience such as philosophy, mathematics, logics, physics and thoghts on social reform.Both Russel and his thoughts were warmly adovacated by the Chinese. Based on histrue observation of the realities of China, Russel pointed out that the social reform ofChina should take the Russian mode of State Socialism, starting with the foundationof a government with orders, the autonomous development of industry, and thedevelopment of education of the populace. Russel’s talks in China and his theories ofsocial reforms had greatly influenced the intellectual thoughts in China at that time.Despite the fact that part of his thoughts were misunderstood by Chinese people,generally speaking, they exerted great influence on the just unfolding May Fourthtrend of thought on social reform, and they promoted and helped our socialistintellectuals of the time with the exploration of social reform.Taking intoconsideration the two main ideological groups in favor of social reform-the sicialistsand the individualists, Russel’s thoughts was not only the source of Guild Socialistsbut also the theoretical weapon of Maxists. It is because of Russel’s thoughts thatMaxism became influential and people who were uncertain of socialism got to knowthe differences between Maxism and Guild Socialism. Although the individualists hadnot admitted in public the influence from Russel, thoughts of Russel were seen intheir ideas, such as the idea of good government.