In Conversation With
Science is completely different from philosophy Nietzsche once said that we need lies for the sake
and religion on the question of questioning. What of survival. Religion and art are all lies, which we
science needs to solve are problems within the must have. Otherwise we could not live.
scope of experience. But, what philosophy has to
solve is problems that transcend experience. But,
as for the way of problem solving, philosophy and
A Great Writer Should Be a Philosopher First
science are the same. Both need specific solutions.
Keystone student: You just talked about the rela-
To sum up, science uses rationality to solve prob- tionship between philosophy, religion and
lems of limited experience, and it is competent for science. What is the connection between philoso-
this task. Religion solves the ultimate problems phy and literature? When we read literary works,
of metaphysics by faith and enlightenment, and we can find that those great writers will reflect
it can also complete the task. Philosophy tries to on life and society. This is very similar to phi-
solve these ultimate problems with reason. And in losophy. So, what do you think is the connection
fact, it is hard to achieve the goal. between the two?
To me, the human soul is a madman, because it Zhou Guoping: The connection between philoso-
always asks those questions that make people phy and literature lies in content but not in form.
uncomfortable. But, the mind is a bore. It fol- As far as form is concerned, literature is an art of
lows the set order to solve problems according to language. It has very high language requirements.
logic. The current situation of philosophy is that As for connotations, the best literary works cer-
the madman is asking questions, and the mind tainly have philosophical connotations. In Milan
is answering them. We often hear people say that Kundera’s words, a novel is a new discovery of
philosophy is in crisis. However, this crisis has possibilities of existence. In connotations, this is
taken root in the nature of philosophy. closely related to philosophy.
British philosopher Bertrand Russell sees it as the My favorite writers are all philosophers in a sense.
true greatness of philosophy. What makes phi- These include Su Dongpo, Tao Yuanming, Li Bai
losophy wonderful is that it sets tasks that cannot and Cao Xueqin of China, and Goethe and Tolstoy
be solved by itself, thus putting the rationality of of the West.
mankind and the spiritual pursuit of mysticism in
a relationship of tension.
Sabrina Liu: The Paris Review, a well-known liter-
ary magazine, has interviewed many writers and
Keystone student: Why do many people who have poets. Different writers and poets have repeat-
faith believe in religion even if they know well that edly mentioned that a great poet and a great writer
those religious stories are not true and science should be a great philosopher first. In essence,
and technology have proven that such things do there is an inseparable connection between poetry,
not exist? literature and philosophy.
Zhou Guoping: There is always a need for religion to Zhou Guoping: These are different forms of human
exist, even if those notions about facts in the reli- spiritual life and are unified by the spiritual life.
gious stories may be proven untrue by evolving Religion, literature, philosophy and art are all
science. However, religion provides its own answer spiritual things. So, they are interconnected to
and comfort to the ultimate meaning of human life. some extent.
The Keystone Magazine 68