Research On Hsiao Kung-chuan’s Democratic Thought

The democracy is an ever-lasting new topic. Democracy has become mainstream political discourse in the world, transformed from government form of Ruled by People in ancient Greece to the political wave sweeping the world in modern society. With influence from Europe and America, democratic thought has been introduced to modern China and become the ideal followed by generations of people in China and many educated youth followed wave upon wave. In the learning life of Hsiao Kung-chuan, he is always concerned about the democracy development in China,and has made a certain contribution to China’s democratic political thought. His true ideas of democracy remain unchanged with the passing of time.Hsiao Kung-chuan has a thorough knowledge of bother western and Chinese, who went abroad to make detailed research on politics and philosophy and deeply explored the humanism of traditional culture. With the strong feeling of patriotism, he is looking forward to the bloom of democracy flower in China. The democracy ideal of Hsiao Kung-chuan distinguishes Democracy and Constitution, proposes simplified idea of Ruled by People as the Foundation and Constitution as Assistance, by which to highlight the legal elements in Constitution; explains freedom as Accomplishment in Material Life and Satisfaction in Spiritual Life, the realization of which can promote the development of humanity; satisfaction and development of humanity is the value orientation of democracy. Hsiao Kung-chuan points out that the core of democracy is the demonstration of rational spirit and is the freedom of will realized with autonomy, self-discipline and consciousness and only by this, democracy will have more meanings rather than the appearance only. He answers Political Tutelage with Woman does Not Need to Learn How to Raise a Child before Marriage. Democracy needs education and needs more practice. Hsiao Kung-chuan proposes a compromise plan Liberal Socialism, integrating equal economy and free politics together. He also points out that the democracy in China can’t live long without modern transition of society and culture and in particular, he advocates the harmony between Confucian tradition and modern culture.The democracy idea of Hsiao Kung-chuan focuses on the national character development and coordinates and compromises cultures between east and west, which has strong imprint of that era. He emphasizes the priority of Ethics and tries his best to realize Chinization of western political thoughts, which also possesses outstanding characteristics. It can’t be denied that Hsiao Kung-chuan is not a thinker with original creation and his democracy ideas are restricted by times and theories, but he provides helpful references to construction of socialist democracy in China now with his deep understanding of our social culture foundation, interpreting of Chinization of freedom and law, inclusive and conciliatory attitude to pluralistic civilization, respect of value and emphasis of ethnics.