The “Way of Becoming a Person” in Fang Keli’s Educational Thought

In the field of contemporary philosophy and culture, there is a scholar who participated in, witnessed, and powerfully promoted the pioneering development of the disciplinary construction of Chinese philosophy. He put forward the ideological proposition of “Marxist soul, Chinese substance, Western utility,” advancing the Marxist comprehensive and innovative cultural outlook to a new stage. He was not only an outstanding philosopher but also a far-sighted educator. He labored in higher education for 58 years, always positioning himself as a people’s teacher, always placing teaching and educating people first, cultivating a large number of high-quality specialized talents engaged in philosophical and cultural research for the cause of the Party and the state, and making outstanding contributions to China’s higher education cause.

在当代哲学与文化领域，有这样一位先生，他参与、见证并有力推动了中国哲学学科建设的开创式发展，他提出“马魂、中体、西用”的思想主张，将马克思主义综合创新文化观推进到一个新阶段。他不仅是一位出色的哲学家，也是一位目光远大的教育家。他躬耕高等教育58载，始终把自己定位于一名人民教师，始终把教书育人放在第一位，为党和国家事业发展培养了一大批从事哲学文化研究的高质量专门人才，为我国高等教育事业作出了卓越贡献。

He is Fang Keli, a member of the Academic Division of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, former president of the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, former president of the Chinese Society for the History of Philosophy, and former chief expert of the Marxist Theoretical Research and Construction Project. [1]1 The Marxist Theoretical Research and Construction Project (马克思主义理论研究和建设工程) is a major state-led initiative launched by the CPC in 2004 to develop and standardize Marxist theory textbooks and research for use in China’s education system. Mr. Fang graduated from the Department of Philosophy of Renmin University of China in 1962 and successively engaged in education, scientific research, and management work at Renmin University, Nankai University, and the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He never left the teaching post and once frankly stated, “Gathering the world’s talents and teaching them is the greatest joy of my life.” He was willing to be a ladder for others, encouraged and supported younger scholars, placed high hopes on young talents, and poured a great deal of effort into cultivating first-class philosophical and social science talents suited for the 21st century. Mr. Fang has been gone for more than four years, but the educational principles, the way of conducting oneself and pursuing scholarship, which run through his educational thought, provide valuable intellectual wealth for future generations to continue moving forward.

他就是中国社会科学院学部委员、中国社会科学院研究生院原院长、中国哲学史学会原会长、马克思主义理论研究和建设工程原首席专家——方克立先生。方先生1962年毕业于中国人民大学哲学系，先后在中国人民大学、南开大学、中国社会科学院研究生院从事教育、科研、管理工作。他始终没有离开过教学岗位，曾坦言“聚天下英才而教乃平生最大乐事”，他甘做人梯、奖掖后学，对青年人才寄予厚望，为培养适应21世纪的一流哲学社会科学人才倾注了大量心血。方先生离开我们已经四年多了，但他在教育思想中贯穿的育人方针、为人治学之道，为后辈继续前行提供了宝贵的思想财富。

Equal Emphasis on Learning and Conduct, Simultaneous Cultivation of Virtue and Achievement

学行并重 德业双修

In 1982, when Mr. Fang began supervising master’s students at Nankai University, he put forward the educational principle of “equal emphasis on learning and conduct, simultaneous cultivation of virtue and achievement,” emphasizing the unity of knowledge and action, of being a person and pursuing scholarship. Subsequent cohorts of graduate students have passed it down as a basic criterion for conducting oneself and pursuing scholarship. This educational thought originated from Mr. Fang’s research on the theory of knowledge and action in the history of Chinese philosophy, deepened through the summary of his decades of educational practice, and was based on the “way of becoming a person” for cultivating first-class philosophical and social science talents for the 21st century, constituting the main characteristic of Mr. Fang’s educational thought.

1982年，方先生在南开大学开始带硕士生时就提出“学行并重，德业双修”的育人原则，强调的是知与行、为人与为学的统一，以后历届研究生都把它当作为人治学的基本准则传承了下来。这一教育思想源起于方先生对中国哲学史上知行观的研究，深化于方先生几十年教育实践的经验总结，立足于培养21世纪一流哲学社会科学人才的“成人之道”，构成了方先生教育思想的主要特征。

“Equal emphasis on learning and conduct” emphasizes the unity of “knowledge and action.” In his article “Talking with Graduate Students about Reading, Scholarship, and Being a Person,” Mr. Fang pointed out, “When we study Chinese philosophy, we must not only understand it in principle but also sincerely embrace it, transform it into our own blood, turn it into inner virtue, and embody it in our actions at any time and any place, becoming a person of consistent words and deeds, a person of unified learning and conduct.” In terms of “learning,” this is manifested in a diligent, dedicated, truth-seeking, and innovative attitude of hard work. In terms of “conduct,” emphasis is placed on cultivating practical ability, being good at discovering, raising, and solving problems. “Simultaneous cultivation of virtue and achievement” emphasizes the unity of being a person and pursuing scholarship. Mr. Fang particularly valued cultivating students’ life values and repeatedly reminded students to pay close attention to their own moral cultivation, and to properly handle the relationship between scholarship and virtue. From the mid-1990s onward, Mr. Fang often emphasized another saying to his students: “Three parts scholarship, seven parts being a person.” Mr. Fang believed that “not only must scholarship be done well, but first of all, one must be a good person.” He required students to place greater importance on being a moral person. It is nothing remarkable for a person to write a few books in a lifetime; the difficulty lies in being a noble person, a moral person, a person free from vulgar interests throughout one’s life. He emphasized the need to inherit the essence of values from the excellent traditional Chinese culture, such as “moral education first,” “self-cultivation as the foundation,” “unity of knowledge and action,” and “inseparability of learning and conduct.” In “An Evening Talk with Doctoral Students,” Mr. Fang, when discussing with students “how to handle the relationship between doing scholarship and being a person,” pointed out: “Chinese philosophy is ‘learning for the self’ and ‘teaching for the completion of virtue,’ not ‘learning for the mouth and ear,’ something merely spoken for others to hear. ‘Learning for the self’ means using knowledge to achieve virtue; one must personally practice it to learn the essence of Chinese philosophy.” He consistently guided students to deeply appreciate the way of “learning for the self” and to practice it personally, striving to achieve the unity of knowledge and action, to be a person of consistent words and deeds, a person of unified learning and conduct.

“学行并重”强调“知与行”的统一。方先生在《与研究生谈读书、治学和做人》一文中指出，“我们学习中国哲学，不仅要在道理上懂得它，而且要诚心服膺，化为自己的血脉，变成内在的德性，随时随地体现在自己的行动上，做一个言行一致、学行统一的人”。在“学”的方面，体现为勤学笃行、求是创新的躬耕态度。在“行”的方面，注重实践能力培养，要善于发现问题、提出问题并解决问题。“德业双修”强调为人与治学的统一。方先生特别重视培养学生的人生价值观，多次提醒学生要十分注意自己的品德修养，一定要处理好学问与德行的关系。20世纪90年代中期以后，方先生又对学生们经常强调另一句话：“三分学问，七分做人。”方先生认为，“不仅学问做得好，首先做人得做得好”。他要求学生把做一个有道德的人放在更重要的位置上。一个人一辈子写了几本书并没有什么了不起，难的是一辈子做一个高尚的人、一个有道德的人、一个脱离低级趣味的人。他强调，要传承中华优秀传统文化中“德教为先”“修身为本”“知行合一”“学行不二”的价值观精华。方先生在《与博士生一夕谈》中，与学生探讨“怎样处理做学问与做人的关系”时指出：“中国哲学是‘为己之学’‘成德之教’，而不是‘口耳之学’，光讲给别人听的。‘为己之学’是要用知识来成就道德，自己一定要身体力行，这样才能学到中国哲学的精髓。”他一直引导学生深刻体会“为己之学”之道，并身体力行，努力做到知行合一，做一个言行一致、学行统一的人。

In today’s era of fierce competition for interests, everyone faces the issue of the relationship between righteousness and benefit. In his article “We Must Strengthen Moral Education,” Mr. Fang particularly emphasized that material civilization and cultural-ethical progress should be “coordinated development of the two civilizations, and ‘benefit’ and ‘righteousness’ must be unified. The coordinated development of the two civilizations is of great significance to the development of our country.” He pointed out: “Ideological and moral education, including education in cultural quality, is very important. Nowadays, when students reach the master’s or doctoral level, it seems they are immediately becoming talents. But in fact, some of them have low cultural cultivation. Some have good professional quality but lack the basic morality and cultivation required of a person. Chinese tradition places great emphasis on moral education and stresses self-cultivation. I believe education in this area should be strengthened.” Therefore, Mr. Fang believed that students, in being a person, must grasp the most basic principles of morality, and he always emphasized strengthening the education of the gentleman’s personality of “using righteousness to control benefit,” “regarding righteousness as supreme,” and “taking the world as one’s responsibility.” As an outstanding educator, Mr. Fang harbored a sincere heart, and for decades, in his words and deeds, he consistently maintained the teacher’s moral style of “equal emphasis on learning and conduct, simultaneous cultivation of virtue and achievement,” nourishing younger scholars like rain and dew, helping them grow robustly.

在如今这个利益竞争十分激烈的时代，每个人都面临着义利关系问题。方先生在《要加强德育教育》中，特别强调物质文明与精神文明“两个文明协调发展，‘利’和‘义’要统一。两个文明的协调发展对我们国家的发展有重要的意义”。他指出：“思想道德教育，包括文化素质的教育非常重要。现在学生读到硕士、博士，好像马上就成才了，其实这里边也有一些人文化素养不高。有的业务素质不错，但缺乏做人的起码的道德和修养。中国的传统非常重视德育，强调修身。我认为要加强这方面的教育。”所以，方先生认为，学生做人要把握道德的最基本准则，始终强调对学生加强“以义制利”“义以为上”“天下己任”的君子人格教育。作为一位优秀的教育家，方先生怀揣着一颗赤诚之心，几十年如一日，在言传身教中一直保持着“学行并重，德业双修”的师德风范，像雨露一样滋润后学，帮助他们茁壮成长。

Rigorous Scholarship, Noble Conduct

严谨治学 高尚做人

In 1998, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Mr. Fang put forward the training policy for high-quality talents of “rigorous scholarship, noble conduct” and established this as the fine tradition and academic style of the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, hoping that students would carry it forward. These eight characters are a highly condensed and summarized expression of Mr. Fang’s educational thought and practice.

1998年，在中国社会科学院研究生院20周年院庆之际，方先生提出“严谨治学、高尚做人”的高素质人才培养方针，并将此作为中国社会科学院研究生院的优良传统和学风，寄望同学们能够接力传承下去。这八个字是方先生教育思想实践的高度凝练和概括。

“Rigorous scholarship” refers to Mr. Fang’s particular emphasis on academic attitude and academic method. He stressed the need for the diligence and rigor of a historian, valuing historical materials, ensuring every statement has a basis, and not issuing empty arguments. Mr. Fang often told students to be down-to-earth, take one step at a time, not to seek quick success or instant benefits, and even less to resort to opportunism or trickery. Achieving success in scholarship may involve some element of genius, but it mainly relies on diligence. Mr. Fang repeatedly emphasized that the maxim of the older-generation scholar Fan Wenlan [2]2 Fan Wenlan (范文澜, 1893–1969) was a prominent Chinese Marxist historian, known for his work on Chinese history from a historical materialist perspective. — “One must sit on a cold bench for ten years, writing not a single sentence of empty prose” — should be passed down as a motto from generation to generation, guiding young students to “establish a fine academic style that fears no difficulty, studies hard, is diligent in thinking, seeks truth from facts, and issues no empty arguments.” Mr. Fang stressed the importance of studying and applying historical materialism, and grasping the correct academic direction, which is key to whether every graduate student can become a talent. In his article “Can Our Era Produce Great Scholars?” Mr. Fang stated that besides “being willing to sit on a cold bench, concentrate on scholarship, and make achievements,” one also needs “correct standpoints, viewpoints, and methods, and a correct research attitude.” Only by combining these two can one make contributions that surpass those of predecessors.

“严谨治学”指的是方先生特别重视治学态度和治学方法。他强调，要有历史学家的勤奋和严谨，重视史料，言必有据，不发空论。方先生经常对学生说，要脚踏实地，一步一个脚印，不能急功近利，更不能投机取巧。在学术上取得成就或许有天才的因素，但主要靠勤奋。方先生多次强调要把前辈学者范文澜先生讲的“板凳要坐十年冷，文章不写半句空”作为代代相传的格言，引导青年学生“树立不畏艰难、刻苦攻读、勤于思考、实事求是、不发空论的优良学风”。方先生强调，要重视对唯物史观的学习和运用，把握正确的学术方向，这是每一位研究生能否成才的关键。方先生在《我们时代能不能出学术大家？》中讲到，除了“甘坐冷板凳、专心治学而有所建树”，还需要“有正确的立场、观点和方法、有正确的研究态度”。二者相结合，才能够作出超越前贤的贡献。

Mr. Fang adhered to the combination of history and theory, and the combination of Chinese, Western, and Marxist thought, continuously reaping many creative achievements through inheritance and innovation. The academic path Mr. Fang traversed shows that one must especially “put in real effort” in studying Marxist theory. He steadfastly maintained the Marxist standpoint, enabling him to distinguish right from wrong and stand firm amidst changing circumstances. From his youth, he paid close attention to grasping the correct academic theoretical direction, consciously studying and applying Marxist philosophical viewpoints and methods to guide his scientific research, and implementing them throughout his personal scholarship. With keen academic insight, he put forward a series of theoretical innovations, which had a considerable impact in academic circles, earning him the reputation of a philosopher who “leads the trend.”

方先生坚持史论结合、中西马结合，不断在继承与创新中收获许多富有创造性的成果。方先生走过的学术道路表明，尤其要在马克思主义理论的学习上“下真功夫”。他始终坚守马克思主义立场，在风云变幻中得以明辨是非、站稳脚跟。从青年时起，他就十分注意把握正确的学术理论方向，自觉学习、运用马克思主义哲学观点和方法指导自己的科学研究，并将其贯彻于个人治学之中。他以敏锐的学术洞察力提出一系列理论创新，在学术界产生较大影响，被称为“领导潮流”的哲学家。

“Noble conduct” refers to Mr. Fang’s emphasis that graduate students should possess a strong sense of social responsibility, establish a correct outlook on life, and courageously assume the historical mission entrusted by the era. He imparted to his students the character “plain and solid” (pingshi) as the basic experience for conducting oneself, pursuing scholarship, and writing essays: “Be plain and solid in conduct, be plain and solid in scholarship, and be plain and solid in writing.” Mr. Fang pointed out that being plain and solid is not mediocrity; it does not negate creativity. From plainness and solidity, one can manifest noble character and profound thought. This is a path to becoming a person of talent that is close at hand yet leads far. The two characters “plain and solid” were the essential way that Mr. Fang practiced throughout his life. “In conduct and scholarship, value plainness and solidity” became the guiding principle of Mr. Fang’s personal conduct and academic work.

“高尚做人”指的是方先生强调研究生们应该具备强烈的社会责任意识，树立正确的人生观，勇于承担时代赋予的历史使命。他以“平实”二字作为做人、做学问、写文章的基本经验传授给学生们，“做人要平实，做学问要平实，写文章也要平实”。方先生指出，平实不是平庸，它并不抹杀创造性，从平实中能够体现出高尚的人格和深邃的思想，这是一条切近而致远的成才之路。“平实”二字，是方先生终生行之的要道，“为人治学崇平实”成为方先生为人和治学的要领。

Mr. Fang’s proposal of “rigorous scholarship, noble conduct” was not only an encouragement and requirement for young scholars but also a portrayal of his unremitting practice of the “way of becoming a person” over 58 years on the path of teaching and nurturing people. Mr. Fang not only possessed profound knowledge but also had a broad and benevolent heart, which shaped his deep insight and his gentle style in both personal conduct and scholarship. His colleagues evaluated him thus: “He has good professional ethics and a noble character. He is open and aboveboard in his own conduct, honest and upright, sincere and friendly toward comrades, modest and tolerant, with the demeanor of a Confucian general; one could call him a ‘Confucian commander.’” Mr. Fang was “insatiable in learning and tireless in teaching.” He was full of love for his students, cared about their growth and development, and provided timely support and encouragement, like the spring breeze and rain, nourishing the students as they grew into talented individuals. Throughout his life, he practiced the unity of learning and morality. His excellence in both virtue and achievement earned him the trust of older-generation scholars, the respect of his contemporaries, the confidence of younger scholars, and the unanimous affection of his students.

方先生提出的“严谨治学、高尚做人”，既是对青年学子的勉励和要求，也是他58载教书育人之路上不懈践行“成人之道”的写照。方先生不仅拥有渊博的学识，还具有宽厚的仁爱之心，这塑造了他深刻的洞察力和为人治学的平和风格。同事们对他这样评价：“有良好的职业道德，高尚的人品，自己做人坦坦荡荡，光明磊落，对同志诚恳友好，谦和宽容，有儒将之风，可以说是‘儒帅’。”方先生“学而不厌，诲人不倦”，对学生充满爱心，关心他们的成长和发展，及时给予支持和鼓励，如同春风雨露，滋养着学子们成长成才。他毕生践行学问和道德的合一，其德业双馨得到了老一辈学者的信任、同一辈学者的敬重、年轻一辈学者的信赖，更得到了学生们的一致爱戴。

Meticulous Cultivation, Strict Management

精心培养 严格管理

After Mr. Fang Keli assumed the position of President of the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, he clearly put forward the requirement of “meticulous cultivation, strict management” to all supervisors and teaching management personnel, advocating a path of connotative development focused on improving the quality of training. The educational thought of “meticulous cultivation, strict management” was a summary of Mr. Fang’s many years of experience in graduate teaching management.

方克立先生担任中国社会科学院研究生院院长后，明确向全体导师和教学管理干部提出了“精心培养、严格管理”的要求，主张要走以提高培养质量为主的内涵发展道路。“精心培养、严格管理”的教育思想，是方先生多年从事研究生教学管理工作的经验总结。

Mr. Fang consistently advocated the concept that “a strict master produces outstanding disciples.” He believed that this saying is more pertinent than “a famous master produces outstanding disciples.” Only through strict requirements and strict management can high-quality talent be cultivated; this is also the law of talent cultivation. He believed that a teacher’s strict requirements for students are the greatest care for them and the greatest driving force in their process of becoming talented. The emphasis here is on the word “strict,” meaning that supervisors must put in more hard work, relying on their loyalty to the Party’s educational cause, and regard cultivating students as a sacred mission and responsibility. To strictly require students, one must first set an example by one’s own conduct. It is not only about teaching by words but, more importantly, about teaching by deeds. Supervisors should not only impart knowledge and methods of scholarship to students but also use their noble teacher ethics to influence and inspire students. What students admire in their teachers is not only their scholarship but, even more, their noble character. Students should take their teachers as role models and learn how to conduct themselves and pursue scholarship. Facts have proven that those teachers who strictly require their students in politics, professional competence, and moral character and academic style are themselves necessarily more rigorous in their scholarly attitude, and the students they cultivate are of higher quality and become talented more quickly. “A strict master produces outstanding disciples” is a truth proven by the practice of many.

方先生一贯提倡“严师出高徒”的理念。他认为，“严师出高徒”这句话比“名师出高徒”说得更中肯，只有严格要求、严格管理，才能培养出高质量的人才，这也是人才培养的规律。他认为，老师对学生的严格要求，就是对他们最大的爱护，是他们成才过程中最大的助力和推动力量。这里的重点是强调一个“严”字，意味着导师们要付出更多的辛勤劳动，凭着对党的教育事业的忠诚，把培养学生当作神圣的使命和责任。严格要求学生，首先要以身作则，不仅要言教，更重要的是身教，导师不仅要把知识和做学问的方法传授给学生，而且也要用高尚的师德来浸润感染学生。学生敬佩老师的不仅是学问，更是其高尚的品德，应以老师为榜样，学习怎样做人和做学问。事实证明，那些在政治上、业务上、品德学风上对学生严格要求的老师，自己的治学态度也一定是比较严谨的，培养出来的学生素质比较高，成才快。严师出高徒，这是被许多人的实践所证明了的真理。

Mr. Fang also had many incisive expositions on the “meticulous” in “meticulous cultivation,” the core of which was to cultivate students into truly first-class talents in politics, professional competence, and moral character. Mr. Fang believed that, in addition to meticulous help and guidance in professional matters, strict requirements should also be applied in political matters to help students make political progress. When talented individuals encounter obstacles on their path of growth, one must dare to support and uphold them clearly and unequivocally, striving to create an environment in which top-notch talents can stand out. Mr. Fang insisted on teaching students according to their aptitude, providing guidance tailored to the different characteristics of each graduate student, with particular attention to ability cultivation and concern for students’ comprehensive development and innovative practice. In “An Evening Talk with Doctoral Students,” Mr. Fang not only answered what specialized foundational knowledge doctoral students need to possess, emphasizing the importance of reading general histories and classic original works, but also pointed out that a qualified doctoral dissertation must be a high-quality creative achievement. Mr. Fang fully supported the in-depth development of the “Add Pressure to Oneself, Aim for First-Class” campaign at the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, highly praised the students’ proposed slogan of “Six Firsts” (“first-class character, first-class cultivation, first-class knowledge, first-class vision, first-class ability, first-class physique”), and pointed out that the “Six Firsts” precisely embodied the goal of meticulously cultivating first-class social science talents. Mr. Fang shouldered the mission of contributing educational strength to national rejuvenation, devoted all his energy to creating first-class scientific research achievements and cultivating first-class talents, and selflessly contributed to making the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences a first-class base for cultivating talent in philosophy and social sciences.

方先生对“精心培养”的“精”也有诸多精辟阐述，核心是为了把学生培养成在政治、业务、道德人品上真正一流的人才。方先生认为，除了业务上精心帮助和指导外，在政治上也要严格要求，帮助学生在政治上进步。当人才在成长道路上遇到险阻时，要敢于旗帜鲜明地予以扶植和支持，努力创造使拔尖人才脱颖而出的环境。方先生坚持因材施教，针对每位研究生的不同特点，分别给予指导，特别注重能力培养，关注学生的全面发展和创新实践。在《与博士生一夕谈》中，方先生不仅回答了博士生需要具备哪些专业基础知识，强调读通史和读经典原著的重要性，而且还指出一篇合格的博士论文，必须是高质量的创造性成果。方先生全力支持在中国社会科学院研究生院深入开展“自加压力，志在一流”的活动，高度赞扬同学们提出的“六个一流”口号（“一流的品德，一流的修养，一流的学识，一流的视野，一流的能力，一流的体魄”），指出“六个一流”正体现了精心培养一流的社科英才的目标。方先生肩负为民族复兴贡献教育力量的使命，为创造一流的科研成果和培养一流的人才殚精竭虑，为把中国社会科学院研究生院办成一流的哲学社会科学人才培养基地而无私奉献。

To strengthen education, teachers must first be strengthened. On the journey to accelerate the building of a strong educational country, it is necessary to vigorously cultivate and build a contingent of high-quality, professional teachers with noble ethics and superb professional skills. The vast number of educators need to vigorously promote the spirit of educators, implement the fundamental task of fostering virtue and nurturing people, inherit the ways of conduct and scholarship of outstanding educators of previous generations, and walk well the path of teaching and nurturing people on the new journey.

强教必先强师。在加快建设教育强国的征途上，需要大力培养、造就一支师德高尚、业务精湛的高素质专业化教师队伍。广大教育工作者需要大力弘扬教育家精神，落实立德树人的根本任务，传承前辈优秀教育家的为人治学之道，走好新征程上的教书育人之路。

Source: Chinese Social Sciences Net – Chinese Social Sciences Today

资料来源：中国社会科学网-中国社会科学报

Online Editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧