User:Dukelouie
Maoism[edit]
Contradiction: The Section on Mao's view of contradiction is strong at connecting his arguments from "On Practice" and "On Contradiction." Embedded quotes provided specific moments that highlight his overarching argument succinctly. The section also specifies that Mao's arguments are based on his more fundamental philosophy that knowledge is gained from empirical evidence. I think this section could be improved by providing direct links to his articles/arguments. It could also be improved by acknowledging that "contradiction" does not carry a negative connotation in Mao's articles.
Mao Zedong believes that Marxists view the activity of production as man's most basic activity. [1]
Chinese New Left[edit]
Wikipedia divides "New Left" (western) from "Chinese New Left" only connecting the two through a "view also" link. While not a huge issue, it was slightly more difficult finding the Chinese New Left than expected. The page provides a strong explanation for the origin of the term, providing links to major events and persons relevant to the New Left. It is also significant that the page provides recent dates and events significant in the New Left's history. Perhaps the largest weakness on the page is that there is no outline of the party's platform or agenda; even a lengthier overview would improve the page.
Other potential issues include:
- Only a two sentence overview provides information for the Chinese New Left.
- The entry provides only the most basic information on the relationship between New Leftism and liberalism; a "see also" link provides the primary connection between the two pages.
In the early 90's, debate between liberalists and the New Left broke out to an extent rarely seen in China. [2]
Zhang Binglin (Zhang Taiyan)[edit]
In this section, information on Zhang's life is ample. Adequate information is provided on to whom Zhang was acquainted, where his interests laid, and where he worked and studied. However, very little is written about his goals for China's future and the framework he set in place for future philosophers. His Wikipedia page is rather short, although it manages to provide many connections to other significant figures. References to his Buddhist studies are exceptionally thin. Only one sentence recognizes he even studied Buddhism. Perhaps a new subsection discussing his thoughts and philosophies further could be created. In fact, Buddhism was so critical to Zhang's philosophy that he used it to provide a framework for future thinkers to build off. [3]
Opportunities and Challenges[edit]
Creating a new entry on Wikipedia is an exciting new endeavor! I have never worked with HTML, edited a Wikipedia entry, or even attempted to write in the style of encylopedia entries. All these aspects present new challenges. While the challenges may be difficult to overcome, the potential of providing lasting research and information (however small) that is accessible to almost anyone is worth overcoming any obstacle. Modern Chinese Philosophy is an abundant field with rich characters, ideas, and dialogues. Although I am certainly no expert in the field, after inspecting several Wikipedia topics relevant to our class discussions, it is clear that there is room for further exploration in the broad realm of Modern Chinese Philosophy. Simply by perusing through Wikipedia pages, I feel my basis in Chinese Philosophy has been reinforced and strengthened.