Marx, the great thinker, his critique of capitalist society and his profound insight into human history, still has a strong influence today. He once pointed out that the contradictions of capitalist society will inevitably lead to a proletarian revolution. However, in today's view, what Marx did not foresee is that the progress of human society and the development of science and technology have brought about profound changes in the soil of revolution.
200 years ago, Marx did not ignore the possibilities of technology, productivity and economic progress in his theory. Marx believed that although the development of productive forces and scientific and technological progress under capitalism can lead to higher production efficiency and more wealth, this does not automatically solve the problem of social inequality.
In fact, Marx believed that there is an inherent contradiction in the capitalist system itself, that is, the conflict between the socialization of production and private ownership. This contradiction will lead to the occurrence of a capitalist economic crisis, which in turn will affect social stability and development. Therefore, even today, when the productive forces are highly developed, social inequality and class contradictions still exist.
Today we live in an age of great material abundance. The rapid development of science and technology and the great increase in productivity have enabled us to create unprecedented wealth. But is this accumulation of wealth really benefiting everyone? In fact, what we're seeing is a widening gap between the rich and the poor. A few people hold most of the wealth, while the majority struggle on the poverty line. This injustice is the challenge we face.
On the question of revolution, Marx believed that for a revolution to take place, certain historical conditions and social foundations need to be met. Over the past few hundred years, as a result of the development of the capitalist economy and the advancement of science and technology, a number of new social classes and groups have indeed emerged that may become revolutionary forces. However, this does not mean that there will be no more revolutions now. In fact, in some countries and regions, there are still serious problems of inequality and social injustice, which can trigger social unrest and revolutionary movements.
We can't help but ask, why is there still such a big gap between the rich and the poor in today's advanced technology? Why is it that most people still can't get their fair share even when the pie is getting bigger and bigger? I think there are two reasons for this.
First of all, the progress of science and technology has not fundamentally changed the basic structure of society. Although technology has brought about a huge increase in productivity, it has not changed the conflict between wealth accumulation and poverty. On the contrary, advances in science and technology have made wealth more concentrated, and the gap between rich and poor has widened.
Second, the progress of science and technology has also brought new security guarantees. Strong law enforcement and military apparatus provide absolute security for the ruling class. The soil for the revolutions that have taken place in the past few hundred years is gone, and no one is going to risk it for the sake of so-called more dignity and fairness. People have become Xi to the current state of life and are no longer willing to struggle for an uncertain future.
How do we respond to such challenges? I think on the one hand, we need to recognize the double-edged nature of technological development. The development of science and technology has indeed brought about an increase in productivity and living standards, but at the same time, it has also exacerbated the gap between the rich and the poor in society. Therefore, we must find a way to make the development of technology truly beneficial to all. This requires macro-level government intervention and broad social involvement. Governments should put in place policies so that the benefits of technology are distributed equitably to all. At the same time, we should also encourage more social organizations and individuals to participate in public welfare undertakings and promote social fairness and progress.
On the other hand, we need to re-examine the possibility of revolution. In Marx's time, revolution was the main means by which the people at the bottom fought for their rights and interests. Today, however, the soil of revolution has undergone profound changes due to the tremendous increase in science and technology and productivity. But this does not mean that revolution is completely impossible. In fact, as long as social inequality and the gap between the rich and the poor still exist, the people at the bottom may fight for their rights and interests in various ways. Therefore, we need to be vigilant against social injustice and the widening gap between the rich and the poor, and at the same time encourage and support all forms of rights activism.
Finally, we need to recognize the power of the individual. Although we cannot change the basic structure of society, we can start with ourselves and do our part for the fairness and progress of society. We can choose to support the cause of fairness and justice, we can actively participate in social welfare activities, and we can also practice the principles of fairness and justice in our own lives. Only when everyone takes action can we truly promote the progress and development of society.
To sum up, although it is true that the development of technology and productive forces has brought more wealth and opportunities to society, social inequality and class contradictions still exist. At the same time, the occurrence of a revolution also requires certain historical conditions and social foundations. Therefore, we need to continue to pay attention to the problems of social inequality and class contradictions and seek solutions.
Friends, we live in a time of great challenges and opportunities. We need to think hard about how to address these challenges and how to seize these opportunities. Only through our joint efforts and unremitting struggle can we truly achieve social fairness and progress.