Sublation Of Feuerbach’s Philosophy In Marx’s Philosophy Of "New Materialism"

Since Marx named his own philosophy "New Materialism" in Theses on Feuerbach, Chinese and foreign philosophers have been heatedly discussing on what is Marx’s "New Materialism" and what is new in Marx’s "New Materialism". The dissertation argues that the philosophical essence of Marx’s "New Materialism" should be attributed to practical materialism. The flourishing tree of Max’s "New Materialism" rooted in practical materialism, and the latter is the fundamental philosophical characteristic of the former. Some theorists believe that the philosophical essence of Marx’s "New Materialism" belongs to dialectical materialism, or historical materialism, or practical ways of thinking. Though their conclusions cannot be simply judged as errors, they are at least not accurate, not profound, or not comprehensive enough. They reveal from different aspects the general characteristics of Marxist philosophy, but have not revealed its essential feature. Therefore, I would rather assume that Max’s "New Materialism" is a new concept of social history, but more than the new concept; Max’s "New Materialism" is a new anthropological theory, but beyond the new anthropology; Max’s "New Materialism" has triggered a revolution of way of thinking, but will not stop at the revolution. It is the category of practice that is the theoretical cornerstone and essential feature of Marxist philosophy. Max’s "New Materialism" is a philosophy of practical materialism.As a representative figure of materialist, Feuerbach presented unique theories in the history of German philosophy. He restored materialism in the19th century when religion, theology and speculative philosophy enjoyed their extensive popularity. Many of his philosophical thoughts gave Marx and Engels great impact. From the perspective of the relationship between Feuerbach’s philosophy and Max’s "New Materialism", this dissertation, aims to compare the two philosophies from the aspects of view of nature, humanism, epistemology, alienation, historical view, function and mission of philosophy, etc., clarify the inspiration Feuerbach brought to Marx and reproduce the formation process of Max’s "New Materialism". The dissertation will also help clear up the misunderstanding of Marxist philosophy, deepen the understanding of the nature of Max’s "New Materialism", strike back the erroneous ideas like so-called "two Marx","problem of young Marx" and "humanitarian Marx", correct the wrong practice of deliberately distorting or dismembering Marxism, go back to a real Marx and strengthen people’s faith in Communism. The dissertation adopts methods of literature review, comparative studies, historical analysis, logical analysis and statistical analysis. It is made up of nine parts including an introduction, seven chapters, a conclusion and an appendix.Introduction:this part explains why the topic is chosen and introduces the research value, the literature review home and abroad, the methods, the content, the key points, the difficulties and the innovations.Chapter One:Intersection of Feuerbach, Marx and Engels. This chapter presents Feuerbach’s life, his main philosophical ideas, his achievements and contributions as well as his intersection with Marx and Engels.Chapter Two:Enlightenment Max’s "New Materialism" Gained from Feuerbach’s Perceptual Conception of Nature. From the perspective of practical materialism, this chapter compares Feuerbach’s sensible view of nature with Marx’s concept of humanized nature in his "New Materialism". Feuerbach and Marx held different views about the relationship between men and nature. This chapter, by analyzing their different concerns, reveals the enlightenment Feuerbach cast on Marx’s "New Materialism".Chapter Three:Marx’s Anthropology in His "New Materialism" Surpassing Feuerbach’s Humanism. In the position of practical materialism and through comparing Feuerbach’s human as objective being with Marx’s human as objective activities in his "New Materialism", this chapter illuminates their different understandings on human nature and the inevitability for them to seek different paths for human emancipation.Chapter Four:Distinctions Between Feuerbach’s and Marx’s Epistemology. Feuerbach’s epistemology is a kind of materialistic intuitive theory of reflection and a dialectical cognosciblism. It has defects like insufficient subjective initiative and incomplete materialistic stand. Marx sublated Feuerbach’s epistemology via practice.Chapter Five:Marx’s Sublation to Feuerbach’s Theory of Religious Alienation. By analyzing Feuerbach’s belief about the origin, nature and alienation of religion, this chapter elaborates the significance as well as the historical limitations of Feuerbach’s theory of religious alienation, and it also brings to light the inspiration that Feuerbach’s theory of religious alienation brought to Marx’s theory of labor alienation.Chapter Six:Marx’s "New Materialism" Surpassing Feuerbach’s Historical View. Through comparing their different understandings toward the nature of society, the relationship between social being and social consciousness, and the law of historical development of human society, this chapter focuses on how Marx’s "New Materialism" surpasses Feuerbach’s historical view.Chapter Seven:Different Functions and Missions of Feuerbach’s philosophy and Marx’s "New Materialism". The value and function of all the old philosophies, including Feuerbach’s philosophy, lie in explaining the world. After attributing illusory theology to secular foundation, Feuerbach’s philosophy remained standstill. Marx’s "New Materialism" finished the task that Feuerbach did not. It achieved a dialectical unity of philosophy’s functions both as explaining the world and changing the world.Conclusion:Contemporary Value of Marx’s "New Materialism". This part sums up the whole dissertation, puts forward the research achievement and the social value of the dissertation. At the same time, it points out the inadequacies of the research and the prospective improvement.The appendix provides the chronologies of Feuerbach, Marx and Engels for readers’ reference.The innovation of the dissertation consists in two aspects. Firstly, from the point of view of practice, the essence of Marx’s "New Materialism", this dissertation discusses the relationship between Feuerbach’s philosophy and Marx’s "New Materialism", clarifying the former’s influences to the latter. Secondly, the dissertation proves that the influences from Feuerbach to Marx can neither be overstated nor understated, the objective evaluation should be that the former played a role as a lighthouse for the latter’s ideology.