Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No. 4, 2023

A New Investigation of the Ding an Sich Problem

(Abstract)

Yu Zhenhua

In response to the scientific revolution of the 17th century, Kant put forward his transcendental philosophy, which distinguishes between the appearance and the Ding an sich, and believes that people can only know appearances, but not things in themselves. The fact that contemporary philosophy has gone far beyond transcendental philosophy can be seen clearly in the following ways: the response to the scientific revolution, the dualistic theory of qualities, the two concepts of the Ding an sich, and how to know the Ding an sich. In order to deepen the discussion of the Ding an sich problem, it is necessary to introduce a new problem consciousness and try to elucidate a switching theory of reality that distinguishes between meaning-impoverished Ding an sich and meaning-rich Ding an sich, and advocates placing the focus of philosophical thinking on the latter. Basing ourselves on the switching theory of reality and the total perspective concept that it implies allows us to better understand man’s place in the universe and the mission of philosophy in the post-metaphysical era.