Gong Yuzhi’s Contributions to the Study of the History of Soviet Philosophy of Natural Science

Gong Yuzhi is a major Chinese philosopher and organizer of science, who laid the foundation for studies in dialectics of nature in China. Thanks to his efforts, the Chinese scientific community became acquainted with Soviet research in the field of science and technology. His works belongs to the fundamental research of the USSR philosophy of natural science. He highly appreciated the achievements of Soviet scientists in the field of philosophy of science and technology and made every effort to ensure that these achievements were perceived and creatively developed by Chinese colleagues. In his scientific research, he did not limit himself to describing in good faith the content of the scientific research being conducted in the USSR, but sought broad generalizations, viewing philosophy in relation to culture and politics. He regarded the Soviet experience as useful and instructive for China, for the Chinese people to become familiar with European culture (of which Russian culture is certainly a part). On the basis of the Soviet experience of ideological campaigns in the field of natural sciences, he drew a number of important conclusions concerning the relationship between science and philosophy. These conclusions are still valid today.