Saturday, May 29, 2021

Brief Thoughts on the Semiotics of 陈朋 加强理论与实践融合共进 [Chen Peng, Strengthen the Integrity of Theory and Practice] and New Era Chinese Leninism

 

Pix Credit HERE

 It is useful from time to time to consider the way in which quasi official elements of the intelligentsia approach a public discourse of vanguard working style.  It is particularly important in Marxist Leninist states  where the issue of the engagement with theory, and its connection with its operationalization both in terms of vanguard working style and specific programs (the manifestations of responding to contemporary fundamental contradiction). This is particularly important since the collapse of the Soviet European Marxist imperial model which, like its liberal democratic challengers, took as a fundamental ordering premise the Biblical nature of classical Marxist works, against which glosses were permitted (and during the Stalin era strategically abused), but revision might be understood both as heresy and treason.  

It s with that in mind that it may be useful to consider 陈朋 加强理论与实践融合共进 [Chen Peng, Strengthen the Integrity of Theory and Practice], sponsored by the Chinese Social Science Net ad made available 20 May 2021.

【本文系中央马克思主义理论研究和建设工程重大项目“习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想对马克思主义中国化的历史贡献研究”(2020MZD016)阶段性成果】  (作者系江苏省社会科学院中国特色社会主义理论体系研究中心研究员)[[This article is a major project of the Central Marxist Theory Research and Construction Project "Research on the Historical Contribution of Xi Jinping’s New Era of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics to the Historical Contribution of Marxism in China" (2020MZD016) Phased Achievement] (The author is a researcher at the Research Center of Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, Jiangsu Academy of Social Sciences)]

The article appears below along with a crude translation into machine assisted English. Irrespective of the inelegance of the translation, enough of its meaning comes through to make several key points.

1. The article elaborates a fidelity to the core concept of  实事求是 [seek truth from facts] which has had a quite flexible history to suit the era in which it was deployed.  It is remarkable, though in the context contemporary of Chinese Marxist Leninism quite fortuitous, that 实事求是 can bridge revolutionary party focus on class struggle and victory over adversaries, to become a bedrock element of the vanguard line in the  construction of socialist modernization through Reform and Opening Up, under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping.  It is that combination of theoretical Chinese Marxism at the core of the role of the vanguard as a revolutionary party, with the pragmatic element of Leninism at the time that the vanguard decisively embraced its new era as the incarnation of political authority expressed through the apparatus of government that gives the expression its power.  

2. In this case it serves as the foundation on which the essay is built. The specific context itself is worth quoting, and it was thought important enough to circulate in foreign languages  from early in the time of the establishment of the revolutionary government.

To take such an attitude is to seek truth from facts. "Facts" are all the things that exist objectively, "truth" means their internal relations, that is, the laws governing them, and "to seek" means to study. We should proceed from the actual conditions inside and outside the country, the province, county or district, and derive from them, as our guide to action, laws which are inherent in them and not imaginary, that is, we should find the internal relations of the events occurring around us. And in order to do that we must rely not on subjective imagination, not on momentary enthusiasm, not on lifeless books,but on facts that exist objectively; we must appropriate the material in detail and, guided by the general principles of Marxism-Leninism, draw correct conclusions from it."Reform Our Study" (May 1941), Selected Works, Vol. III, pp. 22-23 reprinetd in English in Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung (1966).

It is this insight that is well elaborated.  The notion is essentially semiotic though on in which the normative outlook of the interpretive community is taken not just as a given, but as the basis for a dialogue between fact and truth mediated by the meaning structures of Marxist Leninism.  That dialogue itself then changes the aggregate of such meaning structures and so on until through this dialectical process one (eventually) arrives as a truth no longer in need of dialectical engagement (see here).  This is the "New Era" transformation of the Maoist notion of making revolution for suitable for the contemporary historical stage of development.

3. The essay starts with the now familiar idea, often repeated by the core of leadership on China that one must start with a study of Marxist classics. But that this study is not meant to be in the model of biblical exegesis--rather it is meant to trigger the dialectics that propel the vanguard authority forward toward the realization of Marxist materialism. Chen Peng notes:   然而,一个客观事实是,“我们的理论是发展着的理论,而不是必须背得滚瓜烂熟并机械地加以重复的教条”。[However, an objective fact is that "our theory is a developing theory, not a dogma that must be memorized and repeated mechanically." ]. And of course this bring us back to ""truth from facts."

这就意味着,学懂弄通马克思主义基本理论必须与时俱进地学习党的创新理论。如果说理论武装是任何一个政党在推进国家治理过程中必须完成的基础性工作,那么理论创新则是使理论武装更加有效的现实需要。[This means that to understand and understand the basic theories of Marxism, we must keep up with the times and study the party's innovative theories. If theoretical arming is the basic work that any political party must complete in the process of advancing national governance, then theoretical innovation is the practical need to make theoretical arming more effective. ]

The consequence is important and a core element of conceptual Leninism in the Chinese context--the material cannot be given meaning in the absence of a meaning making structure.  That meaning making structure must itself be based on ideological premises that were themselves the product of a long process of meaning making by a revolutionary vanguard with reference to a baseline conception of the world taken as true because it must inherently be so.  This faith in truth is then scientifically elaborated through the dialectics of meaning making--of the signification of facts that both shape and are shaped by the normative premises through which it is possible to provide a coherent system of meaning to facts. 

All of this appears esoteric, and certainly abstract.  Yet it is no more so than the more obtuse approaches to signification deeply ingrained in other systems of providing a structure of meaning or the world around us--and then to use that meaning making strategically both to enhance authority and to add legitimacy to the pragmatic expressions of political power.  In the absence of a knowledge of the approach to understanding the world and its possibilities it is only possible to impose a gloss f personal signification on the signification that one encounters as facts, but which to the other is an expression of truth.  The failure to grasp this continues to impede both Chinese and U.S. policymakers, each so deeply involved in the signification of "facts" (the actions and positions off the other party) that they miss its inherent and quite contextual truth (of the signification that is the product of a system foreign to those receiving it as fact). In this context even communication becomes difficult--though the same words (the objects of language) are used, their meanings do not align (the signification of the word-object, its meaning embedded in the premises form which such meaning is understood in its ordinary sense).

 

 


2021年05月20日 07:43 来源:中国社会科学网-中国社会科学报 作者:陈朋



  实践是理论的本源,理论的价值在于指导实践。推动理论与实践的相互结合,一直是我们党的优良传统。在党史学习教育动员大会上,习近平总书记指出,“要把学习党史同总结经验、观照现实、推动工作结合起来,同解决实际问题结合起来”。这再次提醒我们,要在加快构建中国特色哲学社会科学的过程中坚持理论联系实际。事实上,近年来习近平总书记多次强调要注重理论联系实际,这就要求我们正确认识理论与实践的辩证关系,加强理论与实践的融合共进。

  从理论渊源看,理论联系实际是辩证唯物主义的重要内容。1885年,恩格斯在《致维拉·伊万诺夫娜·查苏利奇》中就提出,“马克思的历史理论是任何坚定不移和始终一贯的革命策略的基本条件;为了找到这种策略,需要的只是把这一理论应用于本国的经济条件和政治条件”。在这里,他强调的就是理论要契合一个国家的政治经济条件等客观实际。列宁则说得更为通俗,“现在必须弄清一个不容置辩的真理,这就是马克思主义者必须考虑生动的实际生活,必须考虑现实的确切事实”。这就把理论联系实际的重要性提升到了一个更高层次。近现代以来,我们党对理论联系实际的认识愈发深刻。比如,早在革命战争时期,毛泽东同志就提出“马克思主义的‘本本’是要学习的,但是必须同我国的实际情况相结合”。

  理论之所以要联系实际,从深层次看主要源于两点。其一,理论的根源在于实践。“生活、实践的观点,应该是认识论的首要的和基本的观点。这种观点必然会导致唯物主义”。而之所以要把实践放在首要位置,则是因为“实践高于(理论的)认识,因为它不仅具有普遍性的品格,而且还具有直接现实性的品格”。换言之,坚持实践第一是辩证唯物主义的基本观点,从实践中形成认识是人们辨识真理的主要标准。既然从根本上讲理论源于实践,那就必然要求它与实际保持紧密联系。其二,理论的重要作用在于实践应用。人类社会的发展一再启示人们,束之高阁、无以应用的理论,终究是水中浮萍、毫无价值。正如毛泽东同志所言,“不应当把马克思主义的理论当成死的教条。对于马克思主义的理论,要能够精通它、应用它,精通的目的全在于应用”;“而真正的马克思主义者,则把马克思主义同具体情况相结合,用马克思主义的方法论来分析现实和指导实践,而不是用马克思主义的本本来切割现实”。也就是说,要使一种理论能在实践中应用、能指导实践,就必须关注实践、解决实际问题。

  推动理论联系实际,前提是学懂弄通理论、掌握思想真谛。在这一过程中,重中之重是要潜心钻研马克思主义经典著作,努力掌握蕴含其中的立场、观点、方法。马克思主义经典著作不仅浸润着经典作家攀登科学理论高峰的艰辛探索及其丰富的思想理论成果,而且蕴含着他们坚定的政治立场、崇高的政治信仰和鲜明的价值取向。深耕这些经典著作,既能增长知识、开阔视野、陶冶情操,也能在潜移默化中感受他们追求真理的坚强意志和人格力量,从而不断夯实理论功底、提升思想境界。正因如此,我们党一直重视马克思主义经典著作的学习。早在党的六届六中全会上,毛泽东同志就强调全党要充分认识到“普遍地深入地研究马克思列宁主义的理论”的重要性。随后,在不同历史阶段,我们党都重视对经典著作的研读。改革开放之初,邓小平同志就告诫我们,“在繁忙的工作中,仍然要有一定的时间来学习,熟悉马克思主义的基本理论,从而增强我们工作中的原则性、系统性、预见性和创造性”。进入新时代,习近平总书记强调,“广大党员、干部特别是高级干部要学好用好《共产党宣言》等马克思主义经典著作,坚持学以致用、用以促学,原原本本学,熟读精思、学深悟透,熟练掌握马克思主义立场、观点、方法,不断提高马克思主义理论素养”。对经典著作的研读,从根本途径上讲就是要原原本本、反反复复地读原著,以此去体悟经典著作所蕴含的历久弥新的思想价值。由此可见,在掌握马克思主义基本理论时,要把研读经典著作放在首要位置,深刻领会贯穿其间的精神实质和思想精髓。

  然而,一个客观事实是,“我们的理论是发展着的理论,而不是必须背得滚瓜烂熟并机械地加以重复的教条”。这就意味着,学懂弄通马克思主义基本理论必须与时俱进地学习党的创新理论。如果说理论武装是任何一个政党在推进国家治理过程中必须完成的基础性工作,那么理论创新则是使理论武装更加有效的现实需要。检视党的历史发现,我们党不仅重视理论武装,而且积极推动理论创新。近百年来,我们党总是根据时空环境的不断变化,审时度势地不断推进理论创新并产生了指导中国革命、建设和改革的重大理论成果。进入新时代,我们党以全新视野深化对人类社会发展规律、社会主义建设规律、共产党执政规律的认识,围绕新时代坚持和发展什么样的中国特色社会主义、怎样坚持和发展中国特色社会主义这一重大时代课题,逐渐形成了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想。实践证明,在这一重要创新理论的指引下,我们取得了举世瞩目的伟大成就。由此,我们要“感悟马克思主义的真理力量和实践力量,深化对中国化马克思主义既一脉相承又与时俱进的理论品质的认识,特别是要结合党的十八大以来党和国家事业取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革的进程,深刻学习领会新时代党的创新理论,坚持不懈用党的创新理论最新成果武装头脑、指导实践、推动工作”。当前,站在“两个一百年”的历史交汇点上,我们要胸怀“两个大局”,深刻学习领会习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想这一最新理论成果,并以之指导实践。

  “理论在一个国家实现的程度,总是取决于理论满足这个国家需要的程度。”因此,推动理论联系实际的关键在于了解实际。何以了解实际?一个重要方法就是深入开展调查研究。重视调查研究是我们党做好一切工作的重要传家宝。实践证明,只有深入开展调查研究,才能真正做到理论联系实际,真正找准问题的症结所在和解决问题之道。习近平总书记强调,“调查研究是谋事之基、成事之道。没有调查,就没有发言权,更没有决策权”。在他看来,“调查研究不仅是一种工作方法,而且是关系党和人民事业得失成败的大问题”。有效的调查研究,不仅能准确全面了解实际情况,而且能推动理论成果转化。它不仅是一个了解情况的过程,也是一个学习的过程、增长知识和提高能力的过程。因此,在推动理论联系实际的过程中,我们需要深入生产生活一线和改革发展的前沿阵地,系统地开展调查研究、了解真实情况。只有这样,才能实现理论与实践的有机融合和相互促进。

  历史和实践证明,“理论一经群众掌握,也会变成物质力量”。但是,这个转化过程是建立在理论紧密联系实际基础之上的。因此,当前面对日新月异的国内外形势,既要与时俱进地掌握科学理论,又要积极推动理论联系实际。唯有促进理论与实践的有机融合,才能既推动理论创新又促进实践应用。



  【本文系中央马克思主义理论研究和建设工程重大项目“习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想对马克思主义中国化的历史贡献研究”(2020MZD016)阶段性成果】

  (作者系江苏省社会科学院中国特色社会主义理论体系研究中心研究员)



转载请注明来源:中国社会科学网 (责编:胡子轩)

 

Strengthen the integration of theory and practice

    May 20, 2021 07:43 Source: China Social Science Net-China Social Science News Author: Chen Peng


      Practice is the origin of theory, and the value of theory lies in guiding practice. It has always been a fine tradition of our party to promote the integration of theory and practice. At the Party History Study and Education Mobilization Conference, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, "We must combine the study of Party history with summing up experience, observing reality, and promoting work, as well as solving practical problems." This reminds us once again that we must persist in integrating theory with practice in the process of accelerating the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics. In fact, in recent years, General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized the need to integrate theory with practice, which requires us to correctly understand the dialectical relationship between theory and practice, and strengthen the integration of theory and practice.

       From the perspective of theoretical origin, integrating theory with practice is an important content of dialectical materialism. In 1885, Engels stated in "To Vera Ivanovna Zasulich" that "Marx's historical theory is the basic condition of any unswerving and consistent revolutionary strategy; in order to find such a strategy, it is necessary to It is only to apply this theory to the economic and political conditions of the country." Here, he emphasized that the theory should fit the objective reality of a country's political and economic conditions. Lenin put it in a more popular way, "Now we must clarify an indisputable truth. This is that Marxists must consider lively real life and must consider actual facts." This raises the importance of integrating theory with practice to a higher level. Since modern times, our party's understanding of integrating theory with practice has become more and more profound. For example, as early as during the Revolutionary War, Comrade Mao Zedong proposed that "Marxism’s "books" must be studied, but they must be combined with the actual conditions of our country."

      The reason why theory should be integrated with reality is mainly due to two points from a deeper level. First, the root of theory lies in practice. "The viewpoint of life and practice should be the primary and basic viewpoint of epistemology. This viewpoint will inevitably lead to materialism." The reason why practice should be put in the first place is that "practice is higher than (theoretical) knowledge, because it not only has a universal character, but also has a direct realistic character." In other words, insisting on practice first is the basic viewpoint of dialectical materialism, and forming knowledge from practice is the main criterion for people to discern truth. Since the theory is fundamentally derived from practice, it must be required to maintain close contact with reality. Second, the important role of theory lies in its practical application. The development of human society has repeatedly enlightened people that theories that have been put on the shelf and cannot be applied are ultimately water duckweed and worthless. As Comrade Mao Zedong said, "Marxist theory should not be regarded as a dead dogma. For Marxist theory, one must be able to master it and apply it, and the purpose of mastery is all to apply." Combine Marxism with specific conditions, use Marxist methodology to analyze reality and guide practice, instead of cutting reality with Marxism." In other words, if a theory can be applied in practice and can guide practice, it must pay attention to practice and solve practical problems.

       To promote the integration of theory with practice, the premise is to understand the theory and grasp the true meaning of thought. In this process, the most important thing is to concentrate on studying Marxist classics and strive to master the positions, viewpoints, and methods contained therein. Marxist classics not only infiltrate the hard work of classic writers to climb the peak of scientific theory and their rich ideological and theoretical results, but also contain their firm political stance, lofty political beliefs and distinct value orientation. Deeply plowing these classic works can not only increase knowledge, broaden their horizons, and cultivate sentiment, but also subtly experience their strong will and personality power in pursuing the truth, so as to continuously consolidate theoretical foundation and enhance the realm of thought. For this reason, our party has always attached importance to the study of Marxist classics. As early as the Sixth Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee of the Party, Comrade Mao Zedong emphasized that the whole party must fully realize the importance of "universally and in-depth study of Marxist-Leninist theories." Later, in different historical stages, our party paid much attention to the study of classic works. At the beginning of reform and opening up, Comrade Deng Xiaoping warned us, “In busy work, we still have to have a certain time to learn and familiarize ourselves with the basic theories of Marxism, so as to enhance the principle, system, foresight and creativity in our work. ". Entering the new era, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized, “The majority of party members and cadres, especially senior cadres, must learn and use the "Communist Manifesto" and other classic Marxist works well, insist on applying what they have learned, and promoting learning, learning from the original, and studying carefully. , Learn deeply and understand thoroughly, master Marxist positions, viewpoints, and methods proficiently, and continuously improve the theoretical literacy of Marxism." The fundamental way to study the classics is to read the original texts over and over again, so as to realize the time-honored ideological value contained in the classics. It can be seen from this that when mastering the basic theories of Marxism, it is necessary to put the study of classics in the first place, and to deeply understand the spiritual essence and ideological essence that runs through it.

       However, an objective fact is that "our theory is a developing theory, not a dogma that must be memorized and repeated mechanically." This means that to understand and understand the basic theories of Marxism, we must keep up with the times and study the party's innovative theories. If theoretical arming is the basic work that any political party must complete in the process of advancing national governance, then theoretical innovation is the practical need to make theoretical arming more effective. Examining the party’s history, it is found that our party not only attaches importance to theoretical arming, but also actively promotes theoretical innovation. In the past hundred years, our party has been constantly advancing theoretical innovation in accordance with the continuous changes in the time and space environment, and has produced major theoretical results that have guided China's revolution, construction, and reform. Entering the new era, our party has deepened its understanding of the laws of human social development, socialist construction, and the Communist Party’s governing laws with a brand new vision, focusing on what kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics to uphold and develop in the new era, and how to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics. A major issue of the times, which gradually formed Xi Jinping's thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics in a new era. Practice has proved that under the guidance of this important innovative theory, we have made great achievements that have attracted worldwide attention. Therefore, we must "comprehend the truth and practical power of Marxism, and deepen our understanding of the theoretical quality of Sinicized Marxism, which is in line with the times and keeps pace with the times, especially combining the achievements of the party and the state since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Historical achievements, the process of historical changes, profoundly study and comprehend the party's innovative theory in the new era, and unremittingly use the latest achievements of the party's innovative theories to arm the mind, guide practice, and promote work." At present, standing at the historical intersection of the "two centenary years", we must have the "two overall situations" in mind, deeply study and comprehend Xi Jinping's new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the latest theoretical achievement, and use it to guide practice.

       "The degree to which a theory is realized in a country always depends on the degree to which the theory meets the needs of the country." Therefore, the key to linking theory with practice lies in understanding reality. How to understand the reality? An important method is to conduct in-depth investigation and research. Paying attention to investigation and research is an important family heirloom for our party to do all its work well. Practice has proved that only in-depth investigation and research can truly integrate theory with practice, and truly identify the crux of the problem and the way to solve the problem. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized, “Investigation and research are the foundation and the way to get things done. Without investigation, there is no right to speak, let alone decision-making power.” In his view, "investigation and research is not only a method of work, but also a big issue related to the success or failure of the party and the people's cause." Effective investigation and research can not only accurately and comprehensively understand the actual situation, but also promote the transformation of theoretical results. It is not only a process of understanding the situation, but also a process of learning, increasing knowledge and improving ability. Therefore, in the process of integrating theory with practice, we need to go deep into the front line of production and life and the forefront of reform and development, systematically carry out investigations and studies, and understand the real situation. Only in this way can the organic integration and mutual promotion of theory and practice be realized.

      History and practice have proved that "theories will become material forces once they are mastered by the masses." However, this transformation process is based on the close connection between theory and practice. Therefore, facing the ever-changing domestic and international situation, it is necessary to keep up with the times to master scientific theories and actively promote the integration of theory with practice. Only by promoting the organic integration of theory and practice can we promote both theoretical innovation and practical application.



       [This article is a major project of the Central Marxist Theory Research and Construction Project "Research on the Historical Contribution of Xi Jinping’s New Era of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics to the Historical Contribution of Marxism in China" (2020MZD016) Phased Achievement]

       (The author is a researcher at the Research Center of Theoretical System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, Jiangsu Academy of Social Sciences)

    Please indicate the source for reprinting: China Social Science Net (Responsible Editor: Huo Xuan)

 
 

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