Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No.11, 2019

Constructing a Contemporary Marxist School of the Intellectual History of China—Some Issues Concerning the Research and Compilation of the Comprehensive Intellectual History of China

(Abstract)

Wang Weiguang

In the research on the intellectual history of China, constructing a contemporary Marxist school of the intellectual history of China is an important task. It is necessary to take one’s stand on the heights of the times, grasp the themes of the times, sort out the continuous lines and essence of the outstanding traditional Chinese thought; and introduce the standpoints, viewpoints and methods of historical materialism that constitute the single thread running through the whole process of the study of Chinese intellectual history. We must always adhere to the principle of starting from social existence and must achieve the combination of intellectual history and social history; must insist on the principle of starting from the people’s standpoint and must write the intellectual history of the people; must insist on the principle of starting from the ruling thought and must refine the threads and leads of mainstream ideology; must uphold the principle of starting from specific analysis of specific issues and must study certain figures in intellectual history and their intellectual achievements under specific historical conditions; and must insist on the principle of starting from the history of intellectual struggle and reviewing the main thread of Chinese intellectual opposition and struggle, lessons from elsewhere and integration. We must both carry on tradition and, even more, must innovate bravely; must orient ourselves towards China while keeping our eyes on the whole world; and must pursue the basic essence of China’s outstanding traditional ideas, so as to serve socialist reality with Chinese characteristics.