Author ｜
Kevin Ting-kit, Yau
Abstract ｜
Chen Duxiu (1879-1942) had a major influence on the development of science and religion in the May Fourth period. Since 1915, he introduced “Mr. Science” and proposed the idea of “replacing religion by science” to China. Meanwhile, his attitude towards religion changed several times, showing great complexity on this issue. This paper investigates Chen’s reception and transformation of the Western thoughts on reason, tracing the anti-religion discourses to the German scientist and philosopher Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919). In 1917, Chen translated an article titled “Science and Christianity,” the translation was published on New Youth. This article is originally a chapter of Haeckel’s book The Riddles of World (Die Welträtsel). By tracing Chen’s proposition back to Haeckel’s idea of “monism,” the paper reveals that Chen criticized religion by means of Haeckel’s arguments while hiding Haeckel’s ultimate goal: the monistic religion. From Haeckel to Chen, we may find connection on reason in the Europe-Asia Enlightenment/Anti-Enlightenment campaign. This paper re-examines how Chen adopted the rational thoughts from the West and modified it into the context of early 20th century Chinese society from the perspective of transcultural studies. Chen’s case may also represent a choice made by the May Fourth intellectuals on the relationship between reason/science and belief/religion.
keywords ｜
Chen Duxiu, Ernst Haeckel, monistic religion, science, religion