The Research On The Charitable View Of Marx And Engels

Charity is one of the oldest civilizations in human history. As Shakespeare put it:"A roseby any other name would smell as sweet." Charity, though differently described as"benevolence","fraternity" and "compassion", has existed since ancient times. Manyphilosophers once have praised the charity, some think that it can resuscitate the human nature;others believe that it interprets the human rights and dignity. Similar to them, Marx andEngels, as the greatest mentor and leader of the proletariat, described charity in some of theirworks. Unexpectedly, however, Marx and Engels always denied it. Based on this, somescholars believe that concept of charity is not mentioned in the whole ideological system ofMarxism. Therefore, when studying the thoughts of Marx and Engels, they take evasiveattitude to the charity problem, which leads to such a result that in the field of Marxism, fewcharity research fruits are achieved. As a socialist country, China has never abandonedMarxism in the process of development. Report of18th CPC National Congress hashighlighted the charity role in constructing a harmonious socialist society. Based on this, thepaper tries to explore a practical way to Chinese socialism charity referring to the charity viewof Marx and Engels from the following aspects:In the introduction section, the author tries to expound the research status on the Marxand Engels charity view at home and abroad, then points out their disadvantages on this topicas well as from what perspective to research and then analyses the theory and practicemeaning.In the first part, the prerequisite question about the charitable view of Marx and Engelswill be expounded. Firstly, defining the basic category of the charity. Namely, based on theresearch achievements we have made, the author will define what is charity from four aspects:giving, mutual aid, fraternity and love; Meanwhile, points out that charity belongs tohistorical category. Secondly, through the further analysis of the logical viewpoint of Marxand Engels’ charity--"real man", and expounding the basic framework and the philosophicalfoundation, research methods and narrative approaches of Marx and Engels’ charity, theauthor tries to prove the existence of Marxist charity on the basis of man and man’s practicalactivity, which is a essential problem to be solved before exploring Marx and Engels’ charity.Part two is about the analysis of the historical evolution of Marx and Engels charity. Inthe first place, with reference to Marx and Engels works, the author tries to analyze the erabackground of forming Marx and Engels charity, including three elements: influence ofChristianity culture, atmosphere of religious criticism in Germany, the oppression of Britishworking class. In the second place, analyzing the theoretical origin of Marx and Engels charity. Since Roman times, charity thought has been found out in any stages, which, to someextent, influenced the formation of Marx and Engels charity. Finally, analyzing the evolutionof Marx and Engels charity. It took a long time for Marx and Engels charity to develop andeventually form. Generally speaking, Marx and Engels charity experienced four phases: first,religious worldview; second, rational worldview; third, humanistic worldview, finally,historical materialism, during which it was continuously perfected till finally formed. In thisprocess, it centered around the deep concern of human living circumstances, which madeMarx and Engels integrate the theoretical achievements of the predecessors and contemporarythinkers, eventually establish the concept of Marx and Engels’ charity.The third part is about the theoretical interpretation of Marx and Engels charitable view.First of all, the paper expounds the basic content of Marx and Engels charitable view. Byanalyzing the main points on charity in the Marx and Engels’ works, the paper tries to provethat Marx and Engels’ charity actually criticizes the bourgeois "false philanthropy" and pointsout the rationality and real meaning of such negative criticism and further elucidates that itembodies Marx’s humanism tendency. Secondly, through the analysis that the nature ofMarx and Engels charitable view is the overall development of man, it further analyzes itsfeatures as realism, criticism, and humanity. Again, it points out that the discussion on theissue of charity by Marx and Engels fundamentally influenced the researchers to the problemof charitable attitude of Marxism, and this is the “source” for the theory of Marxist concept ofcharity. Finally, by combing the relationship between Marx and Engels charitable view andthe traditional western view, it clarifies that the traditional concept is the source for Marx andEngels charity thought as well as the spiritual support and value foundation. Marx and Engelscharitable view is not a simple transcendence of traditional western charitable view, but therevolutionary change of the nature from the bourgeois position to the proletariat position,from the idealism and mechanical materialism to the historical materialism. All of theseenable us to further understand the Implication of Marxism charity and lay a solid theoreticalfoundation for its Sinicization.The fourth part is the Implication of the Sinicization of Marx and Engels’ charitable view.First, by combing the traditional connotation of the concept of charity in our country, thepaper expounds the necessity of its joint obstacles with the Marx and Engels’ concept ofcharity. Second, it interprets that the Sinicization of Marxist concept of charity has alreadyachieved the results. Finally, it profoundly analyzes that the Sinicization of Marxist concept ofcharity has achieved the religious, ethical, political, cultural, and social value, so that it laysthe foundation the for the practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics.The fifth part is about the practice of the charitable view of socialism with Chinesecharacteristics. First, on the basis of absorbing western charitable view and the criticalinheritance of our own traditional charitable view, the concept of charity of socialism with Chinese characteristics is formed by the rational transformation of the traditional way ofthinking through reflection, transcending, and regeneration. Secondly, the paper expounds theconnotation of charity concept of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and defines it as thecomprehensive charity theory on the moral basis of the socialist core values. The valueorientation of the theory is people-oriented, and it aims at narrowing the gap between the richand the poor. Again, it reveals that the three aspects of pursuit for charity concept of socialismwith Chinese characteristics are: realizing the social and public interests, safeguarding socialjustice, promoting people’s happiness and developing in an all-round way. Finally, it analyzesthe realistic difficulties of the existing charitable view so as to put forward the practice ofcharitable view of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The logic of the practice is formedby the reconstruction of four perspectives: social equity, social stability, relationship betweengovernment and market, and social custom etc..