Source: Guangming Daily

Today is the 80th anniversary of the publishing of On Practice and On Contradiction (hereafter referred to as the “two works”) written by the late chairman Mao Zedong. As representative works of Mao Zedong philosophical thought, the “two works” are a symbolic achievement of Mao Zedong thought and a typical example that shows that Marxist world outlook and methodology are in agreement with each other, as well as the crystal of Marxism, in combination with the actual national conditions of China. As a powerful ideological weapon, they provide Chinese communists with scientific world outlook and methodology. They are of great theoretical and realistic value.

I. Based on China’s revolutionary experience and lessons, the “two works” are a powerful ideological weapon guiding the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to steer China practice

To have an in-depth understanding and good mastery of the philosophical essence of the “two works”, we must know the historical background in which the “two works” were created, as well as the actual situation of the then China and what we needed in actual fighting.

The actual situation of China and new-democratic revolution practice are the practical basis of the “two works”. In the early 20th century, capitalism was developing from non-monopoly capitalism to monopoly capitalism or imperialism. China, as a victim of imperialist expansion and invasion, descended to a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society. To win national liberation and independence, Chinese people must join the world socialist revolution under the leadership of Chinese Communist Party. Under this background, Mao Zedong wrote the “two works” based on the concrete practice of Chinese revolution. They were written to correct the wrong line that had misled Chinese revolution and led to a series of setbacks that were suffered, and to establish a scientific ideological and political line for the Chinese revolution. Between 1921 and 1935, the wrong left and right-deviationist lines brought about grave setbacks and serious losses to the thriving Chinese revolution. To find the right theoretical line and strategy, it was necessary to solve the problem of ideological line from the source. To root out subjectivism, especially the doctrinairism in terms of world outlook and methodology, was a pressing issue for the CPC, who had gained a firm foothold in north Shaanxi and was ready to fight a nationwide War of Resistance against Japan,

The “two works” are not only products of certain historical and practical conditions, but also a philosophical summary of the experience and lessons drawn from Chinese revolution. From a broader perspective, their creation was closely relevant with the transfer from the 2nd Revolutionary Civil War (1924-1927) to the War of Resistance against Japan (1937-1945). It was also a thinking and theoretical preparation for upcoming victory in the War of Resistance against Japan and the final victory of the Chinese revolution in future. It provided the CPC with the most powerful thinking and theory weapon. At such a critical turning point, Mao Zedong made a philosophical summary of the experience and lessons drawn from Chinese revolution, and an innovative summary of the unique experience learnt from the Chinese revolution. He organized activities in the whole Party to learn Marxism theory, as well as rectification movement, in a bid to equip the CPC with a scientific world outlook and methodology, root out subjectivism or dogmatism, and establish the ideological line of seeking truth from facts.

II. Try to understand the spiritual essence and significance of the “two works” by centering around the fundamental experience of combining Marxism with the actual situation of China.

Only by putting the “two works” into the practice of combining the universal truth of Marxism with the actual national conditions of China can we understand its core essence and great significance. The setbacks and failures experienced in the Chinese revolution warn the CPC of two important issues. First, we should have a correct understanding about China. All correct thoughts, theories and lines are based on correct understanding about the reality of China. They are not from books, nor do they inherently exist in our brain. This is what On Practice is mainly about. Secondly, we must have a correct understanding about the peculiarity of the paradoxical movement of the Chinese society. Only in this way can we find the right way to the problems China faces on a case-by-case basis. This is what On Contradictions focuses on. The “two works” were created just in response to such ideological problems. They are the “golden key” to a series of key issues of the Chinese revolution.

Firstly, adhere to the viewpoint of practice first and proceed from reality in everything we do. The viewpoint of practice is a primary and basic point of Marxist philosophy. Regarding the problem that subjectivists, especially doctrinaires, were wild about applying individual Marxist words and foreign experience while ignoring the revolutionary practice ongoing in China, Mao Zedong stressed the importance of practice and named one of his works On Practice. He explained the foundation basis and decisive role of practice from a wide range of perspectives. For instance, practice is the source, impetus and objective of knowledge; and it is also the only standard to see if knowledge is right or wrong. In his view, knowledge is based on practice which will in return benefit practice. This completely pulls out the root of subjectivism or doctrinarism and consolidates the philosophical basis of the right ideological line.

Secondly, stick to the viewpoint of contradictions. Proceed from the particularity of contradictions in everything we do. On Contradiction is not simply about the general principles of materialistic dialectics. Instead, proceeding from combining basic Marxist principles with China’s revolutionary practice, it goes straight to the heart of subjectivism and metaphysics, or the problem of divorcing from the special national condition of China. In the book, Mao Zedong discussed the universality of contradictions, stressing that the law of unity of the opposite is the essence and core of materialistic dialectics, which made it a universal law governing the universe. On the basis of the universality of contradictions, Mao Zedong laid special stress on the particularity of contradictions and emphasized we must adhere to the principle of treating specific contradictions in a concrete way, which is the living soul of Marxism. He pointed out that any contradiction is a unity of particularity and universality. We must pay attention to not only the universality of contradictions but the particularities. He made an in-depth analysis of the specific social conflicts in the then China and formed a correct guideline for Chinese revolution on the basis of analyzing specific contradictions in a concrete way.

Thirdly, adhere to the principle of unity between “particularity” and “universality”, which is the essence of epistemology and dialectics. We should proceed from the combination of general principles and specific reality in everything we do. Marxist dialectics and epistemology are in conformity with each other; “unity” between “particularity” and “universality” is the essence of both dialectics and epistemology. Seizing the essence of Marxist philosophy, Mao Zedong elaborated on the dialectical relationship between dialectics & epistemology, individual & general, particularity & universality, put forward the Marxist general principle of combining particularity and universality, the right ideological line for the CPC from the height of dialectical materialistic knowledge, hence providing a philosophical basis for localization of Marxism in China. Mao Zedong stated that to use Marxism to guide Chinese revolution, we must localize it. The so-called localization of Marxism in China is applying the general principles of Marxism to the “specific environment” and “particular condition” of China and adapting them in content and form to the actual reality of China. With content about China and expression form with Chinese characteristics, it can be better accepted by the Chinese people. We should stick to not only the general principles of Marxism, but combination of universal principles and the actual national condition of China. We cannot stress “particularity” while ignoring “universality” and denying the general principles of Marxism. Likewise, we cannot stress “universality” while ignoring “particularity” and denying the necessity of localizing Marxism in China. If so, we would be caught in the set pattern of dogmatism. Applying the general principles of Marxism to the actual national condition of China is where the essence of Marxist dialectics and epistemology. It is the starting point and fundamental point to solve problems of Chinese revolution.

On Practice is mainly about the unity of knowledge and practice; On Contradiction primarily focuses on unity between the universality and particularity of contradiction. The two help us realize unity of the general principles of Marxism and the actual reality of Chinese revolution.

III. The “two works” laid a foundation for localization of Marxism in China and enriched and developed Marxist philosophy. They are a brilliant model of combining the general principles of Marxism and the actual reality of Chinese revolution. In the development history of Marxism and Marxist philosophy, they have a groundbreaking value.

First, the “two works” developed and enriched the Marxist philosophy system in an innovative way. They are innovative development of Marxist dialectics and epistemology, as well as unity of thinking and working method and brilliant development of Marxism. They lay a foundation for localization of Marxism in China. Firstly, in the history of Marxist philosophy, the dialectical development process of epistemology is elaborated for the first time in an all-around way. Secondly, a series of landmark concepts are put forward in a Chinese manner, including “from practice to knowledge, from knowledge to practice”, “from the masses, to the masses”, “practice is sole criterion of truth”, “transform both the objective world and the subjective world”. Thirdly, truth is elaborated in a scientific way and the Marxist view on truth is adhered to and developed. It’s stressed that “our conclusion is unity of subjectivity & objectivity, theories & practice, knowledge & practice and objection to any wrong thinking that deviates from the specific historical condition. It is pointed out that in the long river of absolute truth, people’s knowledge about a particular period is only relatively correct, which is an evolution of the thinking of Lenin’s “countless relative truth forms absolute truth”. Fourthly, the law of the unity of opposites is described as the law of contradiction, the unity of opposites is summarized as the viewpoint of contradiction, forming an innovative localized theory system for the localization of Marxist philosophy dialectics about unity of the opposite. Fifthly, the philosophy of the unity of contradiction particularity and universality is the essence of dialectics, and recognizing contradiction particularity is the foundation of knowing things scientifically, is put forward. Sixthly, it is stressed that we should know and solve problems by applying contradiction analysis method.

Second, the “two works” set the theoretical height for localization of Marxism. A theory can become mature and reach a scientific level only when it has realized ideological awareness at the philosophical level. Following the basic standpoints, viewpoints and methods of Marxism and containing beneficial elements from excellent traditional Chinese culture, the “two works” are a summary of philosophical theories that are highly scientific and truthful and represent a due theoretical height of localization of Marxism in China.

Third, the “two works” are the first successful example of Marxist philosophy popularization. In the very beginning, they were in the form of speech drafts Mao Zedong used when addressing the Military and Political University of Resistance against Japan. They were aimed to equip cadres with the world outlook and methodology of Marxist philosophy, and enable them to have a clear knowledge about the nature and harm of dogmatism, and be well prepared theoretically for a new stage of the revolution. Considering most cadres’ thinking habit and code of language, terse and forceful terms are used in the “two works”, effectively changing profound theories into plain language and turning abstract theoretical logic into vivid life logic. Therefore, a lively language style is achieved, making the works popular with the public in China. They are the first successful example of how to popularize Marxist philosophy.

Fourth, the “two works” lay a philosophical foundation for the ideological line of seeking truth from facts. Under the leadership of the CPC, China achieved one victory after another in revolution and construction. One of the key experiences is that the CPC has established a correct ideological line—seeking truth from facts. For a party, whether its ideology is right or wrong is of vital importance. However, whether a party can create a correct ideological line determines whether it has a scientific world outlook and methodology to guide. This comes down to the question of philosophical foundation. Mao Zedong once said, experience must be summarized from the perspective of philosophy because “no big political mistakes do not deviate from the dialectical materialism”. If we cannot solve the problem of ideological line at a height of philosophy, we are likely to make more mistakes even if we rectify one for now. This is what the “two works” focus on. They laid a sound foundation for the ideological line of seeking truth from facts and the scientific leading and working method for the CPC.　

Eighty years later, On Practice and On Contradiction are still giving off dazzling light for their great value. We should have an in-depth study of these works and learn how to study and apply philosophy. We should adhere to, put to use and carry on the philosophical wisdom of the “two works”, try to make Marxist philosophy as our own asset, have a good mastery of the standpoints, viewpoints and methods of Marxism, and consciously apply dialectical and historical materialism to the fighting in the new era, to strive for the great victory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

(Wang Weiguang, President & Secretary of the Party Group of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)