Freedom, Rights, and Authority in Chen Duxiu`s Thinking

Abstract

Researches on the May Fourth Movement tend to argue that modern Chinese intellectuals embraced the ideas of individual freedom and human rights as a means to solve China`s crisis. Many later shifted to communism or other ideologies because of such instrumental attitudes. Based on a study of Chen Duxiu, this paper suggests that such instrumental attitudes were a result of a dilemma. On the one hand, the intellectuals wanted to pursue individual freedom and human rights in order to relieve the individual Chinese from the constraints of tradition, so that China could achieve wealth and power on the basis of a vigorous society. On the other hand, however, beset by the total disintegration of political order, they wanted to quickly complete the task of state-rebuilding through a strong central authority. The dilemma reflected an inherited tension between the power of central authority and the development of individual freedom and human rights. Examining how this tension affected Chen Duxiu`s thinking and life experience helps us to better understand not only an important figure but also on important chapter of Chinese modern history.