【学者新论】宇文利：疫情阴影下的中国精神（土耳其语）

北京大学马克思主义学院 2021-09-22

疫情阴影下的中国精神（土耳其语）

Chinese Ethos in the Shadow of Coronavirus

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Isaac Berlin, a British political philosopher, once mentioned of a twig theory, denoting that a twig could be easily bended when pulled downwards strongly, yet it could rebound quickly and violently as reinforced upon. He compared the twisted twig to the social mentality or spirit of the public when a nation falls into crisis. This metaphor can best depict what the Chinese mentality really are during the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic. When the virus spread quickly among people, the fermented public spirit was triggered. When almost everyone was mobilized to do something to save the world, the public spirit turned to be the flag to lead the people go. In the due process, the distinctive spirit——or, more specifically, “ethos”—— of citizenship was made part of the exemplary response to the critical condition in China when fighting to the pandemic. After a big struggle and a big sacrifice, China now is at the brink of winning the battle over this pandemic, yet for all the Chinese, the ethos stimulated and exhibited will continually echo in the coming days.

The recourse to Chinese ethos is part of my attempt to make clear of the actual feelings and attitudes of Chinese people while undergoing the unprecedented disaster of coronavirus pandemic, including the concept of self and collectivity, the core moral concepts, the behavior to protect his dignity and respect, the understanding of meaning of public life. To simplify this purpose, what kind of characteristic spirit or sentiment the Chinese exemplified in battling over the deadly disease. No doubt, a useful way to begin approaching this task is to consider some of the ways in which Chinese ethos has been employed as part of the strategies of meeting the challenge of such a sudden social crisis.

It is no doubt that the predicament caused by the coronavirus brought deep and complex trouble to the Chinese government and its people. It is true that there is a short period of panic of the local people who were infected for not being able to be hospitalized in time. There is also a short period of chaos among the local people who were enclosed in the city for not being able to travel freely. It is evident that such responses are quite natural and almost prevail in all nations and countries as the coronavirus spreads globally. There is no more excuse of policy mistakes for this than the innate fear rooted in the bottom of the heart for average citizens. However, a good citizen will soon realize that the enclosure is but the only best way to protect his life and hence the life of others. In case of emergency, all necessary measures shall be taken to protect the safety of lives and the order of cities. It is the genuine rule underlying all policies, regardless of the form of the politics, past or present.

Whereas there is crisis, there is patriotism. The patriotism showed in the combating coronavirus in China is obvious in three aspects: firstly, everyone strives to protect private hygiene and public health by putting on mask, preventing from being infected and spreading the virus to the public. The awareness of self-protection and the motivation of maintaining public sanitation shields majority against the massive infection at a larger scale. Secondly, people of different walks of life holdfast to their positions or jobs, doing whatever they shall do or needed to do, helping others whatever they can help, thus devoting their efforts to win the combat as early as possible. Thirdly, voices crying for restoring from the abnormal intrusion of the epidemic to normal life and social order also contribute to the positive energy of patriotism. Though there are unavoidable disputes and arguments in the process of combating coronavirus, yet compare to the even bigger political virus, namely the unjustifiable political prejudice, including some crazy rumors, racial prejudice and irrational accusation, patriotism still plays well as the mainstream mentality of the people in China.

The nation of Chinese has long been viewed as a unified, industrious and perseverant nation daring to face challenges bravely. In combating the coronavirus, the successful mobilization of over a billion people sure deserve applauds. citizens prefer homestay to isolate the virus, many join the combat to fight for his city or his compatriots. It is indeed a spectacular picture of nationwide mobilization when medical staff, army man and even ordinary people plunge into the anti-coronavirus war. These highlight the effectiveness of the measures taken by the government, shadowing also the coordinative disposition of the people. It is the mentality of courage and bravery that support many to join the battle, despite of the danger ahead. Many more works as usual or even harder to provide with adequate supplies to meet the greater need in battle frontier. The whole nation shows the world that China can fight till it wins the final victory. In this vein, all the people in the frontier to combat with coronavirus, no matter in the medical team or in logistics, deserve the title of hero.

The German giant philosopher, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, said that the greatness and power of Volksgeist shall never be underestimated. It shall be able to light up the flames of human spirit, especially in the darkness. The Chinese ethos is nothing but the torch to its people in the epidemic. The magnitude and intensity of the ethos may vary as time goes by, yet it can always be expected to motivate individuals to go beyond the minimum obligation and do much more to keep social life safe and sound. Because it shall always draw its cognitive and motivational force from the moral foundation to which each and every citizen appeals, thus urge his basic sense of what a morally progressive individual and society shall do in time of crisis. In this sense, the Chinese ethos is nothing but the innate power of life of all Chinese.

(sponsored by China social science research Project: Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and socialist ethos Item No. 18JDKDB013)

Yuwen li, professor, School of Marxism, Peking University, China

Article From AydInlIK, Page 2, Mar. 30

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