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History and Will: Philosophical Perspectives of Mao Tse-tung's Thought delves into the ideological, philosophical, and historical dimensions of Mao Tse-tung's revolutionary vision, focusing on the unique interplay between historical determinism and subjective will in his thought. Against the backdrop of the Cultural Revolution, the book explores Mao's departure from orthodox Marxist-Leninist doctrine, emphasizing his provocative embrace of ongoing revolution and grassroots dynamism over the institutional stability of his own Communist Party.

Through a series of thematic essays, the author investigates Mao's intellectual roots, including his exposure to Kantian idealism, Marxist romanticism, and traditional Chinese metaphysical frameworks. The book juxtaposes Western philosophical constructs with Mao’s adaptations, arguing that his dialectic diverges fundamentally from European rationalist categories. By examining thinkers like K'ang Yu-wei and Rousseau alongside Mao, the work sheds light on how Maoism emerged as a hybrid intellectual language, uniquely blending Chinese and Western traditions. Ultimately, History and Will offers a nuanced perspective on the ideological tensions that shaped China's revolutionary trajectory, culminating in the dramatic contradictions of the Cultural Revolution.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1973.