Social Sciences in China Review

No.3, 2019

How Pure Is Pure Philosophy? (Abstract)

Zhao Tingyang

Pure philosophy represents an attitude towards philosophy. A reference frame for its purity is manifested in an indirect relationship with real experience. However, this does not mean it is a useless type of philosophy. Philosophy begins with seeking certainty in political debates, giving hope at the limits of human thought, and examining daily life while transcending secular interests and pleasure. Pure philosophy often tries to answer some unsolvable problems, and ultimately after exhausting all possibilities it declares failure, but still it enjoys the pursuit. In this process, philosophy distances itself from experience and becomes pure.