How to understand the nature, function, value and significance of the basic theories of philosophy and social sciences? How to construct the basic theory of contemporary Chinese philosophy and social science in a way that conforms to the law? This is a major prerequisite issue for effectively deepening the study of the basic theories of philosophy and society. On May 17, 2016, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out at the Philosophy and Social Science Work Forum: "Through efforts, we must make the basic disciplines sound and solid, the advantages of key disciplines prominent, the innovative development of emerging disciplines and interdisciplinary disciplines, the inheritance of unpopular disciplines, the complementarity of basic research and applied research, and the mutual promotion of academic research and the application of achievements." "This points the way to the flourishing of philosophy and social science." Because applied and countermeasure research has a more direct connection with actual practice and has a more intuitive "cashable value", its nature, function, value and significance are more easily accepted by people. In contrast, these prerequisites for the study of the basic theories of philosophy and social science are relatively complex and require further in-depth clarification and elaboration.
What is the "basic theory" of philosophy and social science?
Philosophy and social sciences include many disciplines that differ in their nature, objects of study, and methods of study, but as "foundational theories," they share some common qualities. It is these qualities that distinguish it from other research methods and form a unique academic character.
Consciously questioning, clarifying and reflecting on the legitimacy basis of the discipline and its theoretical cornerstone are important characteristics of the basic theoretical research of philosophy and social science. According to the German sociologist Luhmann, the disciplines of philosophy and social science can be regarded as a relatively autonomous system composed of various links and levels under the guidance of certain disciplinary norms, and the most core part of this system is the self-understanding of the theoretical presuppositions of the existence and operation of the discipline, which requires the answer: What is the object of study of this discipline? What is its independent research methodology? What are the basic problems it is dealing with and solving? Has a mature and stable system of concepts and terminology been formed? Wait a minute. Only when these issues are profoundly elucidated can the existence and development of various disciplines gain a reliable foundation. More importantly, this kind of inquiry is not a one-time solution, but a theoretical task that requires constant reflection and reconstruction. Promoting the continuous deepening and keeping pace with the times in this kind of reflection and reconstruction is an important way to develop the basic theories of philosophy and social sciences. Taking philosophy as an example, in history, whenever philosophy faces a major breakthrough, people always put forward and reflect on "what is philosophy", reflect on existing philosophical concepts, correct and even change the original theoretical premises on a new foundation, and philosophy thus gain the vitality of continuous self-transcendence. Another example is sociology, since it gradually separated from philosophy and obtained an independent disciplinary status, scholars have always carried out continuous reflection and inquiry on the disciplinary nature, research objects and research methods of sociology, and this inexhaustible inquiry has become a deep driving force for self-reform and innovation of the basic theory of sociology. For other disciplines of philosophy and social sciences, this is no exception.
Critical reflection and in-depth exploration dedicated to the premise of major theoretical and practical problems is another fundamental quality of the basic theory of philosophy and social science. In the process of its formation and development, all disciplines of philosophy and social science have accumulated and formed a series of "core theoretical problems", and also undertake the mission of summarizing, refining and responding to major practical problems in the process of human and social development. In real research, these major theoretical problems and real problems often interact with each other, respond to and crack major practical problems from the perspective of major theoretical problems, and generate, summarize and sublimate major theoretical problems from the challenges of major practical problems, which is the basic path for the basic theoretical research of philosophy and social sciences to be carried out. The "foundation" of the basic theories of philosophy and social sciences is not only manifested in the study content of major theoretical and practical problems, but also in their special way of exploring and intervening in major issues. It does not accept existing theoretical and practical problems as "ready-made things", but to clarify and reflect on their theoretical premises in depth, and to form theoretical programs and principles of interpretation that are more logically self-consistent and more repulsive to experience on a more solid ideological foundation, so as to penetrate the obscuration of various phenomena and realize the grasp of the essence of human and social life. In "Social Sciences Since the Second World War", Daniel Bell quoted 65 of the most important advances in the social sciences between 1900 and 1965, whether it was Lenin's theory of political parties and organizations in political science, or the theory of social inequality in pareto and others in sociology, Schumpeter's innovative theory, whether it was the mathematical logic theory of Russell and Whitehead in philosophy, or the structuralist anthropological anthropological theory of Lévi Strauss in anthropology. Or Freud's psychological and psychoanalytic theories in psychology all reflect the common characteristics, that is, in the face of the fundamental theoretical difficulties highlighted by the development of the discipline and the major practical issues in the development of society, economy and culture, through presuppositional critical reflection, a new explanatory principle and theoretical program are sought and constructed at the basic theoretical level.
Absorbing, summarizing and sublimating the major ideological achievements in the history of academic development, accumulating profound academic traditions, and creatively generating and transforming the concepts, categories and theoretical systems of disciplines on this basis are another important characteristic of the basic theories of philosophy and social sciences. Engels once said: "Philosophy is a theoretical thinking based on a thorough knowledge of the history and achievements of thinking. This statement applies to every discipline of philosophy and social science. Cultivating academic traditions in academic accumulation and realizing self-transcendence in the renewal and enrichment of academic traditions is an important way for the basic theories of philosophy and social sciences to develop themselves. At the same time, the condensation, proposal and creative transformation of academic terms, categories and theoretical systems mark the degree of independence and maturity of the basic theories of philosophy and social sciences, and concentrate on containing and embodying its theoretical and ideological height. Marx once said: "Every new insight proposed by a science contains a revolution in the terminology of that science." Contemporary Western philosopher Deleuze also believes that philosophy is the concept of creation. Generate new concepts and categories, create new theoretical systems, and constantly construct new "ladders" and "footholds" to enhance and deepen the self-understanding of people and society. This is an important academic ideal about the basic theories of philosophy and social science.
The meaning and value of the basic theories of philosophy and social science
Proceeding from superficial pragmatism and crude utilitarianism, questioning and denying the meaning and value of the basic theories of philosophy and social science is a rather common phenomenon in history and reality. Fully consciously recognizing the irreplaceable significance and value of the basic theories of philosophy and social science is the ideological premise for the truly prosperous development of philosophy and social science.
The significance and value of the basic theories of philosophy and social science are first embodied in overcoming the shackles of outdated dogmatic theoretical concepts on people, expanding the cognitive boundaries of people and society, and being a huge force for promoting people's ideological and spiritual emancipation. Using people's theoretical cognitive ability, unremittingly exploring the truth about human and social life, and forming new ideas, new views, and new concepts through the renewal of interpretation principles, the reorganization of theoretical logic, and the leap of thinking paradigms. This fundamental orientation of the basic theory of philosophy and social science contains the great purpose of breaking the shackles of previous theoretical concepts and opening up new horizons for understanding people and society, thereby changing people's world outlook and renewing the self-understanding of people and society. The German poet Heine once pointed out that the power of thought must not be underestimated, it is a great power to destroy old civilizations and discover the new world, and he believed that Kant's Critique of Pure Reason was a sword to cut down European deism, and Rousseau's work became the ideological force that destroyed the feudal system of Europe through Robespierre. In this respect, Marx is undoubtedly the most brilliant example. Marx lived in an era in which there were already a variety of socialist and communist theories that understood capitalist reality and socialist ideals on the basis of abstract rational principles and "eternal" measures of justice. In contrast, Marx declared: "I do not advocate that we put up any dogmatic banner", "but only hope to discover the new world in the critique of the old world". Through the political economy and philosophical analysis of the internal contradictions of capitalist relations of production and the laws of their movement, Marx transcended the world outlook starting from dogmatic principles, founded the theory of scientific socialism, and realized the great ideological emancipation on the issue of socialism. In the process of exploring the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, centering on how to understand socialism and how to build socialism, we have overcome the mode of thinking that turns socialism into abstract dogma, formed a theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and promoted the emancipation of ideology and spirit as never before.
The basic theory of philosophy and social science is a powerful ideological force for a country and society to grasp its own destiny, recognize the current situation and future direction, and better choose the way forward. The difference between human beings and animals lies in the fact that human beings can grasp the real world with the help of thought, and can consciously create the world of human life through self-reflection, constantly correct behavior. The basic theory of philosophy and social science provides such a powerful "ideological force" to understand the self and the real world and thus affect the process of human society. It is in this sense that General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed: "Every major leap forward in human society and every major development of human civilization is inseparable from the knowledge change and ideological precursor of philosophy and social science." "Throughout history, the more the era of ideological creativity of the basic theories of philosophy and social science is exuberant, the more people are often able to grasp their own destiny well and realize the harmonious development of man and society, which has been particularly prominent in the development of human history in modern times. The political, economic and ideological revolutions of the bourgeoisie have shaped the basic face of modern Western society. Its political revolution is inseparable from the institutional design of Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Montesquieu and others to reflect the bourgeois concept of legal power; its economic revolution is inseparable from the theoretical foundation of the capitalist market economy by Adam Smith, David Ricardo and others; and its ideological revolution is inseparable from the contribution of enlightenment thinkers to sow fire and promote. At every key juncture in the historical development of modern and contemporary China, the basic theories of philosophy and social science have played a major role in "ideological power". Mao Zedong's theory of "the countryside encircling the city" was listed as one of the 11 major achievements of contemporary political science in "Social Sciences Since World War II", and it was this theory that guided the practical path of China's new democratic revolution. The great discussion that "practice is the only criterion for testing truth" has become the ideological precursor of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, including Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thinking of "three represents", the scientific outlook on development, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, as a major achievement of the basic theory of contemporary Chinese Marxism, has become the ideological guide for The Chinese-style modernization construction and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and more clearly embodies the ideological power of the basic theory of philosophy and social science.
The great significance and value of the basic theoretical research of philosophy and social sciences are also reflected in the fact that it provides a solid "basis" for applied research, opens up a possible "direction" for its development, and provides a reliable "guarantee" for its maximum benefits. Man is smarter than animals in that it has a "thought lab" that uses theory as a tool to rehearse practice. It is precisely this "laboratory of ideas" functioned by the basic theories of philosophy and social sciences. Only on this basis can applied research avoid being dominated by "real touch". Discovering and proposing major theoretical and practical problems, and realizing the innovation of ideas, concepts and methods around them, is an important task in the basic theoretical research of philosophy and social sciences, and the discovery and proposal of major problems constitute the precursor of applied research, and the innovation of basic ideas, concepts and methods is the source of applied research. In this regard, Xie Fuzhan, president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, made a very incisive summary: "The depth of thought and the depth of the theory of basic theoretical research determine the forward-looking, systematic, strategic and accurate degree of applied countermeasure research. Without the support of basic theoretical research, the tracking of hot issues seems to be lively, but in fact, it is similar from year to year, and it is constantly repeated at a low level. ...... The more deeply the basic theory is studied, the more ideological the countermeasure research is, and the more clever and effective the suggestions made will be. ”
Construct the basic theory of Chinese philosophy and social science
On May 17, 2016, General Secretary Xi Jinping clearly put forward the historical proposition of "building philosophy and social science with Chinese characteristics" at the philosophy and social science work forum, and the basic theory of building philosophy and social science with Chinese characteristics is the core content.
To construct the basic theory of philosophy and social science with Chinese characteristics, the core task is to construct an academic system of philosophy and social science with subjectivity and originality. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Whether our philosophy and social science have Chinese characteristics or not depends on whether there is subjectivity and originality in the final analysis. The unity of "subjectivity" and "originality" is a sign that the basic theories of Chinese philosophy and social science are truly moving towards autonomy and maturity.
The construction of the basic theories of Chinese philosophy and social science with "subjectivity" and "originality" must take "not forgetting the original" as a solid foundation. The basic theory of philosophical social science is the unremitting pursuit and exploration of the truth of human and social life, and human and social life always exist in the specific field of reality, so the basic theory of philosophical social science is not abstract deduction and speculation divorced from time and space, but a question and quest for the specific, special people and social life reality. This requires that we should be based on the real social life of Chinese, generate our unique problem awareness and ideological themes, and make creative responses. Only in this way can the basic theories of Chinese philosophy and social science change the long-standing "center" and "frontier" relationship with Western philosophy and social science and become an ideological force that promotes the progress of Chinese social civilization.
Basing it on "not forgetting the original" does not mean that the basic theory of Chinese philosophy and social science rejects the achievements of the basic theory of Western philosophy and social science. In the long-term development, the basic theories of Western philosophy and social science have formed a relatively deep theoretical tradition, mature methodology and theoretical production mechanism, which are of great reference significance for the construction of the basic theories of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics. Since the reform and opening up, exchanges and mutual learning with the basic theoretical research results of Western philosophy and social sciences have played a very positive role in improving the academic standards of basic theoretical research and broadening academic horizons. Based on "not forgetting the original" and actively "absorbing foreign countries" with an open and confident attitude, it is still an important way to build a basic theory of philosophy and social science with Chinese characteristics.
"Facing the future" is an important position in the construction of the basic theory of Chinese philosophy and social sciences. Man and society are future-oriented existence, especially in the contemporary world that has not seen the greatest changes in a hundred years, social informatization, economic globalization, political multipolarization and cultural diversification, etc., bring major opportunities and challenges to the future development of people and society, requiring a deep understanding and powerful response to the basic theories of Chinese philosophy and social sciences, and in the process, become the ideological "road signs" leading people and society to the future.
The construction of an academic system with subjectivity and originality further requires us to follow the internal laws of basic theoretical research in philosophy and social sciences, and to combine profound academic accumulation with personalized theoretical creation. The basic theory of philosophy and social science is a cause that can only be accomplished by hard work, which cannot be realized by artificial external forces, but must be conditioned by academic accumulation and accumulation as a profound academic tradition. The "academic accumulation" here refers not only to the academic accumulation of individual scholars, but also to the accumulation of academic ideas of a country and a nation. The development of basic theoretical research in philosophy and social sciences has fully proved that without profound academic accumulation and academic tradition, it is difficult to have real significance in the innovation and breakthrough of basic theoretical research in philosophy and social sciences. Respect for academic accumulation and academic tradition, and personalized theoretical creation are two sides of the same coin, the subjectivity and originality of the basic theories of Chinese philosophy and social science can only be achieved through the specific theoretical activities of each scholar and academic community, so it must be the product of independent ideological exploration. In this regard, with strong theoretical courage and critical spirit, giving full play to the theoretical initiative of each researcher and academic community, and expressing and embodying the content of nationality and cosmopolitanism in an individualized form have become a necessary condition for building a basic theory of philosophy and social science with Chinese characteristics. The great theoretical creation realized by Marx is, on the one hand, based on the profound accumulation and theoretical tradition formed by the history of academic development such as French materialism and utopian socialism, German classical philosophy, and British classical political economy, and at the same time gives full play to Marx's personal "ideological self" personality, thus achieving major theoretical changes and providing us with a vivid example of the internal unity of academic accumulation and personalized theoretical creation.
Constructing the basic theories of Chinese philosophy and social sciences and generating an academic system with subjectivity and originality also requires us to cut through and penetrate the most fundamental and common problems of the times in a theoretical way, extend the tentacles of thought to the deepest part of the spirit of the times, and gain insight and capture the most appropriate combination point between philosophy and social sciences and the current era. Marx said: "The urgent problems of an epoch share the fate of any question which is justified in content and therefore reasonable: the main difficulty is not the answer, but the problem." Therefore, the real critique is not about the answer, but about the question. Just as an algebraic equation can be solved as long as the problem is very precise and thorough, every problem can be answered as long as it has become a real problem. World history itself has no other way of answering and solving old problems with new ones. Therefore, the riddles of each era are easy to find. These riddles are pressing problems of the era. Mao Zedong also emphasized: "The problem is the contradiction of things." This profoundly enlightens us to capture and grasp "the center of those problems where the so-called problems of contemporary times are located", enhance the theoretical insight of grasping the problems of the times and the theoretical explanatory power of responding to the problems of the times, and thus form academic propositions, academic concepts and academic systems with the connotation of the times and the power of thought, which is the only way to build the basic theory of philosophy and social science with Chinese characteristics.
(The author is a professor at the Research Center for Basic Theories of Philosophy of Jilin University and a Jiang Scholar Distinguished Professor of the Ministry of Education)
Source: China Social Science Network - China Social Science Daily Author: He Lai