1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,568 What Zhang Xuefeng is often criticized for is his utilitarianism. 2 00:00:03,568 --> 00:00:05,634 There's a premise to this, 3 00:00:05,634 --> 00:00:08,264 That those of us who are advised by him, 4 00:00:08,264 --> 00:00:11,269 The vast majority live ordinary rational lives. 5 00:00:11,269 --> 00:00:13,523 Or to put it more bluntly, 6 00:00:13,523 --> 00:00:15,402 It's a low-configuration life. 7 00:00:15,402 --> 00:00:18,031 For example, Wang Sicong studying philosophy at UCL, 8 00:00:18,031 --> 00:00:22,915 He would never advise him to choose a major that's easy to find work, 9 00:00:22,915 --> 00:00:25,920 Because he won't have the pressure of finding a job. 10 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:27,798 His disdain for literature, history, and philosophy, 11 00:00:27,798 --> 00:00:30,616 Including his disdain for art disciplines. 12 00:00:30,616 --> 00:00:34,372 He thinks everyone should just be a stable tool, 13 00:00:34,372 --> 00:00:36,439 Full of instrumental rationality. 14 00:00:36,439 --> 00:00:38,317 Where Zhang Xuefeng is still active, 15 00:00:38,317 --> 00:00:40,195 A friend of mine said about him, 16 00:00:40,195 --> 00:00:42,637 Behind these utilitarian statements, 17 00:00:42,637 --> 00:00:44,140 There are hollow eyes, 18 00:00:44,140 --> 00:00:45,642 Eyes without a soul. 19 00:00:45,642 --> 00:00:47,708 At the time I thought it was very well said, 20 00:00:47,708 --> 00:00:49,587 But I have to admit, 21 00:00:49,587 --> 00:00:52,404 This utilitarianism actually has its helplessness, 22 00:00:52,404 --> 00:00:57,100 Or rather, it has its necessity among his client base. 23 00:00:57,100 --> 00:01:00,105 But this helplessness wasn't caused by Zhang Xuefeng, 24 00:01:00,105 --> 00:01:03,862 Just like in a place where drinking water is universally utilitarian. 25 00:01:03,862 --> 00:01:05,364 If you make bottled water, 26 00:01:05,364 --> 00:01:07,806 You could become the richest person, 27 00:01:07,806 --> 00:01:11,751 But in a normal place, this couldn't happen. 28 00:01:11,751 --> 00:01:13,441 In such normal places, 29 00:01:13,441 --> 00:01:15,132 You can only compete in high technology, 30 00:01:15,132 --> 00:01:16,822 You can only innovate. 31 00:01:16,822 --> 00:01:18,325 But personally, 32 00:01:18,325 --> 00:01:19,827 What impresses me deeply, 33 00:01:19,827 --> 00:01:21,330 Is his disdain for art, 34 00:01:21,330 --> 00:01:23,396 Painting, and similar majors. 35 00:01:23,396 --> 00:01:26,401 But this disdain is easy to understand. 36 00:01:26,401 --> 00:01:28,468 But standing from the perspective of an ordinary child, 37 00:01:28,468 --> 00:01:31,285 An ordinary parent considering this issue, 38 00:01:31,285 --> 00:01:34,103 It's inevitable to carry utilitarian colors, 39 00:01:34,103 --> 00:01:37,296 Everything is based on employment, income, and future as the only standards. 40 00:01:37,296 --> 00:01:41,428 He evaluates majors, schools, and cities with almost only one indicator, 41 00:01:41,428 --> 00:01:43,682 Which is whether it's easy to find a job and make money, 42 00:01:43,682 --> 00:01:44,433 Whether it's stable, 43 00:01:44,433 --> 00:01:45,185 Or unstable. 44 00:01:45,185 --> 00:01:45,748 However, 45 00:01:45,748 --> 00:01:47,063 This disregard for ideals, 46 00:01:47,063 --> 00:01:48,002 Only looking at reality, 47 00:01:48,002 --> 00:01:48,941 Dismissing others, 48 00:01:48,941 --> 00:01:49,692 Talking about passion, 49 00:01:49,692 --> 00:01:50,444 Talking about dreams, 50 00:01:50,444 --> 00:01:51,571 Talking about academic pursuits. 51 00:01:51,571 --> 00:01:52,510 But to put it directly, 52 00:01:52,510 --> 00:01:54,952 We ordinary people don't have the qualifications for these, 53 00:01:54,952 --> 00:01:56,267 Let's survive first. 54 00:01:56,267 --> 00:01:58,896 Put maximizing benefits and minimizing risks first. 55 00:01:58,896 --> 00:02:02,277 Although I can't help but think of Wang Xiaobo's famous passage, 56 00:02:02,277 --> 00:02:03,216 Wang Xiaobo said, 57 00:02:03,216 --> 00:02:05,095 Seeking benefits and avoiding harm is human nature, 58 00:02:05,095 --> 00:02:07,536 But if everyone pursues this commonality, 59 00:02:07,536 --> 00:02:09,790 We'll inevitably crowd into the lower places, 60 00:02:09,790 --> 00:02:11,669 Like pigs crowding together. 61 00:02:11,669 --> 00:02:15,237 This passage is from Wang Xiaobo's essay collection "The Silent Majority", 62 00:02:15,237 --> 00:02:17,491 And the people served by Zhang Xuefeng, 63 00:02:17,491 --> 00:02:20,872 The vast majority of them are the majority in the crowd. 64 00:02:20,872 --> 00:02:22,938 But I think we can be pragmatic, 65 00:02:22,938 --> 00:02:24,253 We can be utilitarian, 66 00:02:24,253 --> 00:02:26,319 But we shouldn't be limited by income and future, 67 00:02:26,319 --> 00:02:26,695 People, 68 00:02:26,695 --> 00:02:30,264 Should always have something not moved by benefits and harm, 69 00:02:30,264 --> 00:02:31,954 Should have some idealism, 70 00:02:31,954 --> 00:02:34,208 Should have some determination to go forward despite thousands of people. 71 00:02:34,208 --> 00:02:37,026 Should have some willingness to charge even knowing I can't win this battle, 72 00:02:37,026 --> 00:02:38,904 Otherwise we really allow our lives, 73 00:02:38,904 --> 00:02:41,534 To only have shrewd calculations of benefits and harm. 74 00:02:41,534 --> 00:02:43,600 Can we accept crowding in mediocrity all our lives? 75 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:48,296 In our own life philosophy. 76 00:02:48,296 --> 00:02:49,235 Overall, 77 00:02:49,235 --> 00:02:52,428 Or should I choose what I like, 78 00:02:52,428 --> 00:02:55,809 Because in the things we like to get results, 79 00:02:55,809 --> 00:02:59,190 But it's easy to lose the sense of meaning in life. 80 00:02:59,190 --> 00:03:04,073 And this lack of meaning will lead me to not know why I exist. 81 00:03:04,073 --> 00:03:04,637 However, 82 00:03:04,637 --> 00:03:06,891 Those careers easily loved by people, 83 00:03:06,891 --> 00:03:10,835 Those careers full of idealism have very low success rates. 84 00:03:10,835 --> 00:03:12,526 Not many people dare to gamble, 85 00:03:12,526 --> 00:03:14,216 In the end, I might not find myself. 86 00:03:14,216 --> 00:03:15,531 I'm recording this video, 87 00:03:15,531 --> 00:03:18,348 Not to negate pragmatism and utilitarianism. 88 00:03:18,348 --> 00:03:20,978 Although I say some people have trial and error costs, 89 00:03:20,978 --> 00:03:23,795 Most students who find him have no background, 90 00:03:23,795 --> 00:03:24,735 No resources, 91 00:03:24,735 --> 00:03:25,862 No way out. 92 00:03:25,862 --> 00:03:27,176 In this situation, 93 00:03:27,176 --> 00:03:29,994 Not being utilitarian is putting yourself under a dangerous wall. 94 00:03:29,994 --> 00:03:34,314 But when selling bottled water can achieve huge success, 95 00:03:34,314 --> 00:03:38,446 What we need to do is not blame the person selling bottled water. 96 00:03:38,446 --> 00:03:40,512 What we need to do is think, 97 00:03:40,512 --> 00:03:42,579 Why is there only bottled water, 98 00:03:42,579 --> 00:03:44,832 This kind of person should have some.