The Echoes of Yan Fu's Thought among Republican-Era Sociologists——Based on the Writings of Tao Menghe,Pan Guangdan,Lin Yaohua,and Fei Xiaotong

Existing research has largely overlooked the intellectual lineage between Yan Fu and the first generation of sociologists in the Republic of China era.Drawing on the writings of Tao Menghe,Pan Guangdan,Lin Yaohua,and Fei Xiaotong,this article examines the influence of Yan Fu's ideas on the academic perspectives of these four scholars.Influenced by Yan Fu's ideas,Tao Menghe engaged in discussions on equality and freedom during the early years of the Republic of China,emphasizing the importance of conducting social surveys among the common people.Pan Guangdan engaged in intellectual dialogue with Yan Fu,debating issues of "evolutionary theory" and "unveiling of prejudices," and argued that translating the term as "theory of groups" was more appropriate than "group studies" as a disciplinary designation.Lin Yaohua completed his undergraduate thesis "A Study of Yan Fu" under the guidance of Wu Wenzao,stating it laid the foundation for his tripartite scholarly approach encompassing sociology,anthropology,and ethnology.In his later years,Fei Xiaotong repeatedly emphasized the significance of Yan Fu's ideas in fostering "cultural self-awareness" within China's sociological history and modernization efforts.In-depth research into the intellectual lineage between Yan Fu and the first generation of sociologists in the Republic of China era helps to understand the formation of the first generation of sociologists' ideas within the context of late Qing and early Republican social thought.It also helps to establish the connection between Yan Fu and sociology in the Republic of China.