Breakthrough in the "Iron House" -- A Cross-Cultural Contemplation from the "One-Dimensional Man" to the "Emotion-Ontology"

Abstract

By comparing Herbert Marcuse's "one-dimensional man" theory with Li Zehou's "emotion-ontology" doctrine, this paper conducts a
cross-cultural philosophical dialogue. Marcuse argues developed industrial societies suppress human beings' negative dimension through technological rationality and "false needs, " shaping uncritical "one-dimensional men" and advocating the "Great Refusal" as philosophy's mission.
Rooted in his "anthropological-historical ontology, " Li Zehou addresses the post-religious meaning crisis with the "emotion-ontology"centered on the historically accumulated "emotion-reason structure" as a refuge for individual life. Both criticize instrumental reason hegemonyinduced human alienation and meaning vacuum in modernity, but differ fundamentally in philosophical foundations and value orientations:
Marcuse inherits the Western "two worlds" tradition, emphasizing social criticism and revolution via an outward, negative approach; Li Zehou
grounds his thought in China's "one world" concept of "the unity of substance and function, " focusing on individuals' inner spiritual settlement through an inward, aesthetic path. This comparison reveals distinct Eastern and Western paradigms for addressing modernity's crisis and
highlights the complementary value of "critical deconstruction" and "constructive settlement."