Hu Shih Livres

The syllabus of Hu Shih's 1944-1945 Harvard course on the History of Chinese Thought is meticulously transcribed from over 1500 of his handwritten notes. It offers an in-depth exploration of Chinese intellectual history and philosophy, distilling 3,000 years of complex ideas into a clear outline. This publication not only highlights Hu Shih's interpretations but also serves as a unique historical document, providing valuable insights into China's rich intellectual heritage for scholars and enthusiasts alike.

Hu Shih (1891-1962) was a pivotal figure in modern Chinese thought. He studied at Cornell and Columbia in the 1910s, where he was influenced by John Dewey and became an advocate for pragmatic change. After earning his Ph.D. in Philosophy in 1917, he returned to Peking University, becoming a leading intellectual during the May Fourth Movement and the New Culture Movement. His significant contributions included promoting Chinese liberalism and advocating for written vernacular Chinese, which greatly impacted language reform. Hu served as the Republic of China’s Ambassador to the U.S. from 1938 to 1942 and later as Chancellor of Peking University from 1946 to 1948. He was nominated for a Nobel Prize in literature in 1939 and became president of Academia Sinica in Taiwan in 1958, where he remained until his death at 71. This collection features his English essays, speeches, and academic papers from 1919 to 1962, reflecting his insights on scientific methodology, liberalism, democracy, and social issues. The first volume, “Chinese Philosophy and Intellectual History,” traces the evolution of Chinese thought, while the second, “Literature and Society,” focuses on his successful language reform efforts. The third volume, “National Crisis and Public Diplomacy,” compiles his writings from his ambassadorial tenure.