Humankind's progress has always been driven by two momentums: the pursuit of truth and the creation of value. But our understanding of value, and our ability to reflect on its complexity, has long lagged behind our constant search for truth. This has, in turn limited our grasp of the essence of truth. This book takes philosophical contemplations on value to a new level, while also explicating some contemporary Chinese styles of philosophical thought. Over the past 25 years, this book has been having an increasing impact on Chinese readers and researchers, and it also provides a good platform for international dialogue on several key issues of philosophical studies.

Philosophers have gradually accepted axiology as one branch of philosophy. As a basic category belonging to axiology and philosophy, "value" is the general abstraction of concrete value formation in various fields including utility, ethics and appreciation of the beauty. The problem of value is essentially a problem of historical activities of practice in human society. The axiology based on the scientific practice view insists on the principle of unification between theory and practice, truth and value. In research of axiology, the relation between subjectivity and objectivity of values is a problem that must be solved in the first place. The modern conversation of value philosophy is the academic and practical demands of the value philosophy research in China. Value evaluation is an important part of the axiology. In order to deepen the research of value philosophy and to promote the development of current value philosophy, we must have scientific mode of thinking suitable for the nature of value. It is the base of value relation, the origin of value needs, the process of value creation and actualization and the fundamental way to proving ones value as a human being.

Theory of Value, a book with a total of 370,000 words, was published in 2007 by China Renmin University Press. This book was revised on the basis of the early works by Professor Li Deshun Theory of Value: A Study of Subjectivity (1987, China Renmin University Press). Before and after the publication of Theory of Value: A Study of Subjectivity, the philosophical circle in China was under the far-reaching influence of the mechanical materialism prevailing in the Former Soviet Union, which interpreted the issue of value as idealism and bourgeois and couldn t comprehend subjectivity of Man, the existence of truth in a state of interrelations and the pattern of process thinking and practical thinking. The book Value Theory: A Study of Subjectivity, with a focus on subjectivity, has not only resolved various questions concerning value, but also exerted deep changes on the thinking pattern of China's philosophical circle. Its publication has caused tremendous effect in public and has a profound and lasting social impact. Therefore, it has been granted the first National Book Award, Award for Research Achievements in the Humanities and Social Sciences (The Ministry of Education) and Award for Research Achievements in the Humanities and Social Sciences (Beijing Municipality). Afterwards, Professor Li Deshun has conducted a further research into relevant issues centered on the theory of value (theoretical issues, significance of discipline and application in practice) and the overall Marxist philosophy. Having pondered over these issues for twenty years and gained a fair knowledge in this field, Professor Li set about revising Theory of Value. This revised edition was published in 2007, which is the exact book we recommend to your press. Theory of Value has exerted a wide impact in China. Its influence reaches not only the philosophical circle but also the realms of law, political science, literature, archives science and even daily life of populace. To put in another way, it has influenced the values and the thinking pattern of a whole generation in China. Part of this book has been translated into English and Russian, and was introduced to former Soviet Union and the United States. Dr. John M. Abbarno, Professor of Philosophy in D'Youville College, former Chairman of International Association for Values, once expressed his hope to see the publication of the English version of Theory of Value.

Philosophers have gradually accepted axiology as one branch of philosophy. As a basic category belonging to axiology and philosophy, "value" is the general abstraction of concrete value formation in various fields including utility, ethics and appreciation of the beauty. The problem of value is essentially a problem of historical activities of practice in human society. The axiology based on the scientific practice view insists on the principle of unification between theory and practice, truth and value. In research of axiology, the relation between subjectivity and objectivity of values is a problem that must be solved in the first place. The modern conversation of value philosophy is the academic and practical demands of the value philosophy research in China. Value evaluation is an important part of the axiology. In order to deepen the research of value philosophy and to promote the development of current value philosophy, we must have scientific mode of thinking suitable for the nature of value. It is the base of value relation, the origin of value needs, the process of value creation and actualization and the fundamental way to proving ones value as a human being.