Chinese Journal of Literary Criticism

No.1, 2018

The Possibility of Concrete Universality of Literature

(Abstract)

Gao Nan

Concrete universality is the basic attribute of literature. It relates to a series of

literary categories, propositions and critical practices. The unity of concrete and universal in the concept of concrete universality makes the literary theory with dualistic tendency bewildered. The concept of “universal” (das allgemeine) in Hegel’s The Phenomenology of Spirit illustrates the stage of perceptual activity of sense certainty of mental activity, which provides a truthful basis for literary activity that also conducted with the representational forms of perceptual activity.  The concrete universality of literature will be presented organically and entirely in the literary creation and acceptance of “universal.” It entails the question that  how to construct a literary theory  fit for concrete universality research through the literary stipulations of language, styles, intentions, criticism and the transition of traditional Chinese literary theory.