Abstract:

The idea of individuality is not only a leading discourse that mainstream thinkers such as Chen Duxiu, Li Dazhao and Hu Shih held in the May Fourth Movement, but also one of important ideas of China's modernity. We may define the conception of individuality during the period of May Fourth in terms of negative and positive dimensions. The negative individuality means a resistance to patriarchalism and servility. The positive individuality is associated with rationalism in epistemology and utilitarianism in ethics. Views of individuality during May Fourth reflect a developmental course of consciousness of modernity from one respect. Those mainstream thinkers of that time have taken note of multiple implications and meanings of negative and positive individuality, which shows that Chinese intellectuals' understanding of modernity is deepening. Meanwhile, the disadvantages in the idea of individuality indicate some difficulties in the growth of Chinese consciousness of modernity.