On May 11, 1978, "Guangming Daily" published an article "Practice is the only criterion for testing truth" by our special commentator. This article aroused strong repercussions at the time, with some labeling it "ridiculous" and "cutting down the flag", while others praised it as "the first branch of the east wind" and "a blockbuster that completely destroyed the reactionary ideological system of the 'Gang of Four'". There were different opinions and arguments arose. The article also attracted the attention of Deng Xiaoping, who later pointed out: "On the issue of the standard of truth, Guangming Daily published an article, which suddenly caused such a big reaction, saying that it was 'cutting down the flag,' which further aroused my interest and attention." Under Deng Xiaoping's personal leadership, the debate surrounding this article eventually developed into a discussion on the standard of truth. This discussion broke the serious constraints of the "two ordinary" .
Hu Fuming’s biography
He studied journalism at Peking University in September 1955, and entered the philosophy research class of Renmin University of China the following year;
1962 After graduation, he taught in the Department of Political Science of Nanjing University (later renamed the Department of Philosophy) and served as deputy secretary of the party branch, deputy director, associate professor, and professor. In November 1982, he was transferred to the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China and served as deputy minister and minister of the Propaganda Department of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee, member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Committee, president of the Provincial Party School, and vice chairman of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
Hu Fuming was the main author of the article "Practice is the Only Criterion for Testing Truth" published by Guangming Daily as a special commentator on May 11, 1978. He retired in 2001.
On December 18, 2018, the Party Central Committee and the State Council awarded Comrade Hu Fuming the title of Reform Pioneer, the Reform Pioneer Medal , and was named a representative figure in the discussion on the standard of truth.
On September 25, 2019, Hu Fuming won the personal title of "The Most Beautiful Struggler".
On October 18, 2020, Hu Fuming won the "Highest Contribution Award" from the Department of Philosophy of Nanjing University.
At 6:40 am on January 2, 2023, Hu Fuming passed away.
Without the struggle of reformers, perhaps we would not have achieved what we have today. At the moment, all of us are concerned about where we will go in 2023.
