Dr. Do Van Khang – “A man of his time”

Early "connection" with science

As a 12-year-old boy, Mr. Do Van Khang evacuated with his family to Tuyen Quang during the resistance war against the French. During the war, he worked at the To Hieu printing factory in Viet Bac.

With peace restored, the young man from the capital city devoted himself wholeheartedly to his studies and academic pursuits. As one of fourteen people honored to study in Russia, he chose to specialize in Aesthetics. Making a "revolution" in scientific research was always his guiding principle on his broad and challenging research path. With his bold and unique research style, along with his scientific, insightful thinking and thirst for knowledge, he earned a Doctorate in Aesthetics from the prestigious Russian National University, with two new scientific theories recognized by the Scientific Council of MGY University: the Aesthetic Field Theory and the Theory of Total Vitality and Excess Vitality.

Develop interdisciplinary science and establish new departments.

Associate Professor Dr. Do Van Khang has devoted much effort to building the interdisciplinary trio of sciences: Philosophy - Aesthetics - Art Studies. According to him:To be knowledgeable, one must have interdisciplinary knowledge..It is a combination of methods to achieve the ultimate goal of the research.".

From a broad, interdisciplinary research perspective, Professor Do Van Khang successfully established the Department of Aesthetics and Ethics at the Faculty of Philosophy, Hanoi University. He developed Aesthetics as a foundational science concerning the reality of beauty in life (Aesthetic Life), using a set of highly specific aesthetic categories as a tool (such as beauty, ugliness, tragedy, comedy, and sublime). He also pioneered the development of Art Studies at the Faculty of Philosophy starting in 1994. Professor Khang contributed to the development of the following subjects: Marxist-Leninist Aesthetics; History of Aesthetics; Fundamentals of Literary Theory (basic aesthetics); and Art Studies.

In the 1980s, Professor Do Van Khang, along with contemporary Vietnamese aestheticians, developed the aesthetic theory of Marxism-Leninism within the context of national culture and art, creating clear aesthetic guidelines that were combative and scientifically-oriented. In his system, he established aesthetics from the cutting-edge branches of philosophical science as follows:

Materialism and ontology: After more than 40 years of building a unique philosophical aesthetic system in Vietnam, the teacher's enduring statement about the determinism of beauty remains its ontology. Materiality allows beauty to exist around us, and we can perceive it in all forms through our senses.

Practicality in the arts

Professor Khang always closely follows the creative aesthetic achievements of national and international arts and literature to contribute aesthetic theory to practical aesthetic criticism.

Contemporary

He consistently modernized aesthetic theory, opposing speculative and impractical thinking. In particular, he favored a critical and predictive style of aesthetic thinking.

Unending creativity

Human nature is to mold matter according to the laws of beauty – this is the general principle of the continuous creative nature of all humanity according to the concept of historical materialism. Professor Do Van Khang never neglected this nature within himself. Professor and Academician Nguyen Khanh Toan commented on Professor Khang's creative spirit in his doctoral dissertation in literature as: "New and with many contributions."

The role of symbolism in constructing the ideal person of an era.

He is one of the few contemporary Vietnamese philosophical aestheticians who has built a system of philosophical aesthetics with standard categories that are not dry or abstract, thanks to his ability to grasp the flow of the history of creative artistic imagery—vivid, sensory, and concrete—in the art forms of the world and the nation. This has given his aesthetic system "a form of human life."

Critical thinking

From an interdisciplinary perspective, in the field of aesthetic criticism, Professor Khang has diligently cultivated a modern, passionate style of literary criticism, always emphasizing the guiding and methodological role of philosophical aesthetics.

With many years of dedication to the field of education and training in aesthetic theory, Professor has tirelessly pursued the goal of building an ideal aesthetic orientation within the overall structure of human action and personality; in educating and cultivating the capacity for appreciating and appreciating art through specific examples of people of the era. From this, he has guided and nurtured countless generations of young students with an extremely important skill (emotional intelligence - EQ) that few sciences possess, especially positively impacting philosophy students, who have studied too many subjects that train purely rational, dry thinking.

He has worked at many institutions, universities, and departments related to aesthetics, literature, and art studies, such as the Nguyen Du School of Creative Writing, the University of Theatre and Film, the Faculty of Journalism and Communication, the Yet Kieu School of Fine Arts, the Hanoi Conservatory of Music, the University of Culture, etc. In particular, he was closely associated with the Faculty of Literature and the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Hanoi, now the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

Dr. Do Van Khang

Golden words for "People of a Bygone Era"

As a Vietnamese graduate who topped the Aesthetics major at the Russian State University, Professor Do Van Khang has written a glorious chapter in the history of Vietnam and its people. This is also reflected in the assessments of other professors: Professor Hoang Trinh – former Director of the Institute of Literature – bestowed upon Professor Do Van Khang the title: "An Luong Khang" (meaning "peace and harmony"); Professor Hoang Xuan Nhi – former Head of the Faculty of Literature, Hanoi University – commented on Professor Do Van Khang's first book on Marxist-Leninist aesthetics (editor-in-chief): "This is the first book on aesthetics written by Vietnamese professors with their own unique structure"; Professor and Academician Phan Cu De remarked: "Do Van Khang has early shown a talent for literary criticism… he has an interdisciplinary approach to innovate literature"; Professor Ha Minh Duc – former Director of the Institute of Literature, recipient of the Ho Chi Minh Prize – included Professor Do Van Khang in his ranking of famous Vietnamese people of the 20th century, honoring him as "A man of his time".

scientific achievements

1. In 1984, the book was published.History of Aesthetics(The Primitive and Ancient Greek Period). Published in 2010.textbook History of Aesthetics(complete set).
2. Published in 1985Textbook on Marxist-Leninist Aesthetics (editor)
3. In 1993, ConstructionDepartment of Aesthetics and EthicsAt the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, the Aesthetics specialization (Marxist-Leninist Aesthetics, code: 5.01.05) at the doctoral and master's levels was offered between 1996 and 2004.
4. In 1994, ConstructionArt StudiesFirst in Vietnam, at the Philosophy Department, Hanoi University. In 1990,Art studiesIt is included in the general education curriculum at Hanoi National University (University Preparatory Faculty).
5. Published in 2000Art Studies textbookPublished in 2011.Art Studies textbook(new set).
6. In 2010, he created a phenomenon in modern literary criticism with his book.Modern literary criticism.

Works on Aesthetics, Literary Theory, and Literary Criticism

1. CoilHistory of Aesthetics(The Primitive and Ancient Period of Greece) (1984), Culture Publishing House.
2. Marxist-Leninist Aesthetics(editor) (1985), University & Vocational High School Publishing House.
3. General Aesthetics(editor) (1996), Education Publishing House. Revised edition with additions: National University Publishing House in 2002 and 2008.
4. TextbookMarxist-Leninist Aesthetics(editor) (2010), Education Publishing House.
5. TextbookAdvanced Marxist-Leninist Aesthetics(editor) (2004), University of Education Publishing House I.
6. History of Aesthetics(Complete set) (editor) (2010), Vietnam Education Publishing House.
7. TextbookArt studies(editor) (2000), National University Publishing House. Reprinted 2004 and 2008.
8. TextbookBasic Aesthetics(editor) (2011), Vietnam Education Publishing House.
9. CoilModern literary criticism(2010), Labor Publishing House.
10.  Art studies(New series) (editor) (2011), Information & Communication Publishing House.
11.  Theoretical foundations of literature(Aesthetics of Literature) (2013), Information & Communication Publishing House.

The book "Theoretical Foundations of Literature" (2013) won the Third Prize of the Central Council for Literary and Artistic Criticism, Central Propaganda Department, and also renewed interdisciplinary application with a hierarchical approach of "the foundation of the foundation," "the method of the method."

Associate Professor, Doctor of Science, Meritorious Teacher Do Van Khang - "A man of his time" - made pioneering contributions to the establishment of the interdisciplinary scientific group of Philosophy - Aesthetics - Ethics - Art Studies. The achievements he has attained to date are proof of his dedication and unwavering scientific commitment. His research works and books remain invaluable sources of knowledge for generations of students.