The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) Institute of Philosophy plans to organize the first nationwide meeting of Chinese philosophers, which is scheduled to open here on Aug. 9.

Li Deshun, deputy director of the CASS institute, said here Friday that more than 500 philosophers, scholars and amateur researchers are expected to attend the four-day China Congress of Philosophy 2004.

They will show their latest academic summaries to the academic circles as well as the public, said Li, who himself is a well-known philosopher.

Their discussions will center on some important issues such as the current human and social development and the Chinese socialist construction, which might lead to theoretical breakthroughs supporting the nation's drive to realize modernization, Li said.

Li stressed that it is imperative to encourage philosophy scholars to exchange views with each other in the new period, adding that isolated study of philosophy impedes academic success.

According to a scholastic categorization in China, philosophy consists of eight sub-studies, which are Marxism, Chinese, Eastern,Western, logic, aesthetic, ethnic and science and technology philosophy.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee issued a document in March to encourage interdisciplinary researches not only between different social sciences but also between social sciences and natural sciences.

Themed "Philosophy and China in the New Century", the academic discussions at the congress will include three topics, such as "Tradition vs. Modernity", "East vs. West" and "Science and Technology vs. Humanism".

The congress is expected to be held every three years.

Source: Xinhua