Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No. 6, 2023

The Historical Meaning of Civilization and Its Contemporary Implications

(Abstract)

He Zhonghua

The terms “civilization” and “culture” can be used interchangeably in a broad sense. At the beginning of human civilization, human egocentricity was a common phenomenon in cultural psychology, but the sign of a civilization’s maturity lies in the sublation of this egocentricity. The existence of humans has a transcendental nature. The active interaction between human individuals and classes has enabled human civilization to evolve in an accelerated manner. The anthropological ontological paradox of the division between man’s physical and spiritual existence has its own manifestations in both Eastern and Western civilizations. The modernity shaped by Western civilization is characterized by the paradox of civilization and barbarism and the hegemony of “pseudo-universality.” Over a long historical period, the center of gravity of human civilization has shifted in response to different historical opportunities. The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will profoundly influence the new pattern of civilization in the 21st century. Universal human interaction is an important condition for the development of civilization, and mutual appreciation among civilizations helps different peoples to provide their unique contributions to the overall progress of human civilization.