The Thought Of Social Organism In "The Poverty Of Philosophy" And Its Contemporary Enlightenment

"The Poverty of Philosophy" is the "first public appearance" of Marx’s historical materialism.In this work,Marx analyzed the social organism with materialist dialectics and historical materialism theory.As an important category of historical materialism,social organism has a specific theoretical background and practical basis for its formation.Modern positivist sociologists Comte and Spencer applied the characteristics and laws of biological organisms to analyze social problems.This approach opened the way for Marx’s theory of social organisms;Marx’s criticism absorbed Kant and Hegel’s "social organic theory" as the externalization or manifestation form of "object of natural purpose" and "absolute spirit".With the proposition of historical materialism and scientific practical viewpoints,Marx’s idea of social organism gradually took shape and was elucidated for the first time in "The Poverty of Philosophy".Marx’s social organism was proposed for Proudhon.In "The Philosophy of Poverty," Proudhon discussed the concept of "social organism".Through this concept,Proudhon tried to find the connection between man and society.He simply equated society with the "collective person" and analyzed the society from the subjective point of view.The society is regarded as an isolated and static entity,an abstract that represents the "collective person" concept.Marx criticized Proudhon’s metaphysical method in his book "The Poverty of Philosophy",criticized Proudhon’s "Hegelian" approach of splitting society into several links,and determined that the society is a coexisting and interrelated organism.The theory of social organism is also discussed in Marx’s later writings.Marx tried to build the social organism on the basis of the practice of "real people",and through the analysis of the basic contradictions of society,expounded the development characteristics and internal mechanism.The idea of social organism emphasizes the characteristics of society’s connection,system and symbiosis.This kind of understanding has important enlightening significance for the development of contemporary society.