Zhang Dongsun`s epistemological theory

Abstract

The article is a study on Zhang Dongsun’s “theory of epistemological pluralism” based on his book called “The Theory of Knowledge” (认识论). Zhang Dongsun was one of the first Chinese philosophers of the 20th century to create a holistic epistemological theory, and also one of the first intercultural philosophers. In the Russian scholarly literature, Zhang Dongsun’s “theory of epistemological pluralism” is under-researched. The article aims to give a detailed account of the epistemological theory of Zhang Dongsun as comes from his book “The Theory of Knowledge”. The article, which uses comparative and systematic approaches is also supported by a significant number of specialist works written both by Russian and foreign scholars. The author outlines the Zhang Dongsun theory regarding epistemological pluralism and his views on cosmology and the evolution theory. Equally, she presents the Zhang Dongsun views on the impact of culture on the phenomenon of knowledge. The author also considers the Western philosophical categories, which could have influenced the formation of Zhang Dongsun’s theory of epistemological pluralism.