Abstract:

Subjective consciousness is key factor in the construction of the autonomous knowledge system of China’s higher education discipline. The human nature assumption of the “relational person” in the continuum of “I-me” provides a precise analytical framework for understanding the “suspended thinking” of knowledge system constructing subject. Using the method of in-depth interviews, the relationship network of Chinese higher education knowledge system constructing subject takes self as the coordinate origin, vertically forming teacher-student relationships, and horizontally forming relationships with organizational members and community members. The relational environment provides a subtle and non-reflective background knowledge for knowledge system constructing subject at the institutional and habitual levels, known as cultural significance. Constructing subject constantly constructs a new higher education knowledge system as surface knowledge based on the “cultural significance” foundation that arises from various complex relationships. The relationship has a decisive significance for the identity and behavior of knowledge system constructing subject. The autonomy of the knowledge system depends on whether the constructor can establish a self-awareness of the subjectivity of “me” in the relational network, and has the ability to actively choose and construct new surface knowledge by jumping out of the subconscious and using background knowledge. Thus, it provides a judgment standard for autonomy.

Key words: relationship oriented, cultural significance, higher education discipline, autonomous knowledge system, construct, subjective self-awareness