Abstract: In 1993, a “humanistic spirit” discussion was launched in the field of literary criticism in China.Wang Xiaoming, as the representative of the critics from the perspective of defending “humanistic spirit”, had sharp criticisms on the popular culture with Wang Shuo, Zhang Yimou as the representatives, which launched a two-year discussion.Zhang Yiwu, Chen Xiaoming and others from the postmodernism stand expounded their different views on “humanistic spirit”, Meng Fanhua, Hong Zicheng et.al., proposed their view of “new realism”, and the intellectuals with Chen Sihe as the representative more valued the practice of “humanistic spirit”.This discussion has completely changed the “integration” of the situation of literary criticism, with the turn of contemporary literary criticism to cultural studies and into a pluralistic era.Nevertheless, the subjects of criticism have some problems in the discussion, and with the deterioration of spiritual ecology, reflection on intellectuals themselves is valuable.