Research Achievements
Since 1996, researchers of the Institute have made significant contributions to the development of Chinese humanities. Nearly 30 books have been published by the Sanlian Book Press, the Shanghai People's Publishing House and other reputable presses. About 10 of these works have been circulated internationally and some translated into foreign languages. More than 100 papers have been published in China's Social Sciences and other major academic journals. Many have been widely cited and highly evaluated in the academic circle, including Positivism with Modern Chinese Philosophy, Inner Logic in the Formation of the Thoughts Trend of Evolutionism in Modern China, Critical Exposition on the History of New Confucianism, Thought Trends in Modern China, The Metaphysical Dimension of Science: The Formation and Transformation of Scientism in Modern China, The Geist Tradition of Modern China，Christianism and the Society in Modern China, East Asia: Pilgrimage toward Modern Times and The Transition of the Rural Regions in Changshu in the 20th Century, just to name a few. More details of some works are following:
I Wang Jiafan: Upset in One Hundred Years & Returning after One Thousand Years 百年颠沛与千年往复, Shanghai Yuandong Press, Shanghai, 2001
Focusing on the issue of modernization in the last century in China, the book explores how a nationality with its splendid civilization have been so pressed, bewildered and rough in his road to modernization.
II Wang Jiafan: On Chinese History 中国历史通论，East China Normal University Press , 2000.
By studying the integration of social groups in the process of historical transformation, this works demonstrates quite a few insights on the history of ancient Chinese civilization.
III Eds. Li Xuchang: The Transition of the Rural Regions in Nanhui in the 20th Century 20世纪南汇农村社会变迁, ECNU Press, Shanghai,2001.
As the second book of "the series on the transition of rural regions in Jiangshu, Zhengjian and Shanghai", this works is an achievement in light of the methodological method of historic- social study.
IV Yang Guorong: Ethics and Existence: An Treatise on Moral Philosophy, Shanghai People Publishing House, 2002.
This book explores the metaphysical foundation, rather than specific issues, of morality. More philosophical thinking is embodied in this book than in the author's other ten-odd books. In the in-depth discussion on themes such as the necessity of morality, the sources of obligation, the moral self, morality and knowing, morality and language, and virtue and happiness, some remarkable insights emerge through his comparative study of Western and Eastern philosophy.
V Xu Jilin: Thougts Map of the New Century 新世纪思想地图, Tianjin People Publishing House，2002.
Consisting of four parts respectively investigating thinkers, people of importance, cities and culture, the works embodies strong consciousness of problems and broad horizon toward society.
VI Yu Zhenhua: How Is Metaphysical Truth Possible: A Systematic and Critical Exposition of Modern Chinese Philosophy 形上的智慧如何可能？--中國現代哲學的沉思，Shanghai，East China Normal University Press , 2000.
As far as its content is concerned, How Is Metaphysical Truth Possible, in the first place, is a historical study of modern Chinese philosophy. During the encounters with Western philosophy, new philosophical schools emerged in modern China like mushrooms after a rain; in many cases these schools affected one another. Two approaches to this complicated phenomenon have usually been taken: the case study, focusing on a particular philosopher such as Fen Youlan 馮友蘭, Xiong Shili 熊十力 and Mao Zedong 毛澤東, and the study of currents of thought, such as positivism, liberalism, and socialism. However, Yu displays his broad view and great courage by taking the whole of modern Chinese philosophy as his research object through a problem-focused approach. He argues that modern Chinese philosophers did share a common issue: How is metaphysical truth possible in an age of science? The issue consists of five aspects: first, science and philosophy; second, being and Tao; third, intuition and intellect; fourth, the expressible and the inexpressible; and fifth, freedom and the realms of living. These aspects constitute a framework in which Yu explores the rich thought on metaphysics in modern China.
VII Hu Fengxiang: Social Transformation and Cultural Tradition 社会变革与文化传统, Shanghai People Publishing House, 2000.