At the same time, by setting the discussion on Zhang's philosophy in a broader context of contemporary intellectual discourse, the article also endeavours to establish a tentative basis for the future critical analyses and potential revaluations of Zhang Shenfu's role in intellectual history of modern China. By offering a general view on the concrete confluences and dissonances between the keystones of Zhang's philosophy on one side, and its alleged sources in Western and Chinese philosophy on the other, this study further aims at presenting a new insight into the unique characteristics of Zhang's philosophy. The study sets out from a brief summary of Zhang's intellectual achievements, and proceeds by offering a more concise picture of the main influences, developmental stages and finally also central ideas of Zhang's thought. The article aims at presenting an overview of the main concepts in the philosophical thought of Zhang Shenfu, one of the leading intellectuals from Republican China (1912-1949). It follows the main line of the debate from criticisms of Russell's work to a general debate on 'infinitesimals' and 'indefinitely cut wooden sticks.' Through close examination of the arguments and discursive strategies used by the participants in the debate, the article tries to highlight the state of Chinese discourse on mathematical logic during the time in question as well as the foundations of mathematics, while also shedding some light on the mechanisms and strategies in the undergoing process of the adoption of Western scientific ideas. This article aims at providing a summary of these 1925 discussions. Consequently, in 1925 the first public debate on this topic broke out in Chinese periodicals. One year after the second edition of the book was published in 1924, Chinese intellectuals started to respond to Russell's 'mathematical logic' and philosophy of mathematics, as contained in the work. While up until 1925 Chinese intellectuals like Zhang Shenfu, Zhang Dongsun and others mainly contributed to the dissemination of general notions from Russell's logicism, epistemology as well as mathematical philosophy, two aspiring Chinese mathematicians, Fu Zhongsun and Zhang Bangming, introduced to Chinese readers the first Chinese translation of Russell's Introduction to Mathematical Philosophy. In the years following Bertrand Russell's visit in China, fragments from Russell's work on mathematical logic and the foundations of mathematics started to enter the Chinese intellectual world.

Infinitesimals russel