Research On Plekhanov's Historical Materialism

Georgi Valentinovich Plekhanov(1856-1918),as the first thinker to spread Marxism in Russia and Europe,was known as the "father of Russian Marxism",which was closely related to his original views on Marxist historical materialism.Based on the extensive review of Plekhanov's literature and from the perspective of originality,this study uses the methods of combining text research with problem consciousness,the combination of "history" and "theory",and comparative research,etc.This paper discusses how Plekhanov started to construct his theory of historical materialism,in what aspects he made a creative construction of the theory of historical materialism,how to make a creative construction,and what kind of historical significance and realistic value his original theory of historical materialism has.Philosophers often start the construction of a theory on the basis of their belief or opposition to the theory,and at the same time need to find the basis for the construction of the theory on the basis of independent thinking.The same is true of the construction of historical materialism theory initiated by Plekhanov.First,he transcended populism and became a Marxist,and used Marxist theory to answer the question of The Times: "Where is Russia going?" What is more noteworthy is that he proposed the term "dialectical materialism" for the first time and used it to summarize and explain the Marxist philosophical world outlook,and then made his own interpretation of the relationship between "dialectical materialism" and "historical materialism".This became the theoretical basis for Plekhanov to construct his historical materialism.Through subjective thinking,Plekhanov made many innovative contributions to Marxist historical materialism in the combination of "history" and "theory",or "breaking" or "establishing" or both,and pushing forward the simultaneous deconstruction and construction.First,Plekhanov is the first thinker in the history of Marxist literature who systematically investigated the development process of historical view in the history of philosophy up to Marx.Centered on the fundamental driving force of the development of history,Plekhanov investigated the progress and defects of Marx's previous historical view,systematically discussed the development course of Marx's historical materialism from bud to growth to maturity,and explored how "historical materialism overcomes idealistic historical view".Finally,it is clear that the establishment of historical materialism is "the only real revolution and the greatest revolution in the history of human thought".Second,Plekhanov enriched the Marxist theory of geographical environment.Plekhanov investigated the history of geographical environment theory,and creatively expounded the relationship between geographical environment and social and historical development on the basis of inheriting Marxist geographical environment theory,and made it clear that social development is not determined by human will or geographical environment.The author puts forward the idea that the productive forces are the "intermediary" of the geographical environment's effect on social development and the principle that the geographical environment's effect on social development is the "function" of the productive forces.Thirdly,Plekhanov put forward the theory of social psychology.On the basis of inheriting and developing Marx and Engels' theory of social structure and Engels' theory of intermediate links,he made a general understanding of the connotation of "social psychology",elaborated in detail the relationship between social psychology and ideological system,and concretely applied the theory of social psychological intermediation to the field of philosophy of art.Plekhanov's research on social psychology reveals that social psychological thoughts have great influence on the development of social history,which also means that we must attach importance to the value of social psychology theory.Fourthly,Plekhanov explained the role of the individual in history.Plekhanov factions in the history of critical personal role theory error theory,through the interpretation of social and historical development of the three major reasons,detailed analysis of the dialectical unity of inevitability and contingency and relations,freedom and necessity of dialectical relations,the individual's role in history and social relations,expounds how to correctly understand the role of individuals in history.Finally,Plekhanov affirmed the decisive role played by the masses in history.He not only refuted the idealism view of populists,but also objectively promoted the process of Russian revolution,and embodied the philosophical implication of people-centered,adhering to the mass view and firmly following the mass line.Plekhanov's innovative contribution to historical materialism manifests four characteristics :(1)inheritance.Plekhanov not only inherited the philosophy theory of Marx and Engels,but also inherited the methodology of Marx and Engels' historicism.(2)Criticism.In order to defend and develop Marxism,Plekhanov mostly explained his historical materialism theory in the criticism of others' wrong views,and strongly refuted the populism,revisionism,anarchism and other wrong thoughts.(3)subjectivity.In the process of establishing his philosophical theory,Plekhanov exerted his initiative to transcend consciousness,put forward symbolic concepts and carried out original expression,thus forming the theory of subjectivity.(4)epochal nature.The establishment of Plekhanov's theory of innovative historical materialism was completed in his thinking and answering the major problems of The Times of "where Russia is going" based on his own revolutionary practice.At the same time,he was very keen to catch the anachronistic trend of thought,in time to defend Marxism.There are some shortcomings in Plekhanov's theory of historical materialism,which are mainly manifested in his "understanding" of dialectics more than his "application" of dialectics,his emphasis on "practicality" but his gradual deviation from "practical standpoint".But its historical influence cannot be denied.Plekhanov understood Marxism from the perspective of philosophical world outlook and made a contribution to solving the philosophical crisis of Marxism.He promoted the "eastward spread" of Marxist philosophy to Russia;At the same time,it promoted the combination of Marxism and Russian Revolution and gave important theoretical guidance to Marxist political parties.Plekhanov had an important influence on the formation of Lenin's thought and played a connecting role in the history of Marxist philosophy.His theoretical ideas also made him have a high prestige in the Second International and promoted the development of the international communist movement.In addition,Plekhanov's innovative analysis of historical materialism has important realistic value.On the one hand,Plekhanov's innovative interpretation of historical materialism has certain methodological enlightenment for the construction of the original discourse system of Chinese philosophy.First of all,we should be good at drawing on existing theoretical resources and dare to make breakthroughs and innovations.Secondly,to realize the originality of philosophy requires us to stand in the height of The Times and give full play to the conscious problem consciousness.Thirdly,Plekhanov used the principle of historicism and the principle of integrity in the process of establishing his theory,which has the universal significance of methodology.On the other hand,Plekhanov's original historical materialism theory is of great significance for understanding the philosophical implication of the important propositions in the new era.Materialist view of history helps us to constantly raise our understanding of the law of socialism with Chinese characteristics to a new level.Entering the new era,our party has put forward many important propositions by applying historical materialism and grasping the law of social development.Plekhanov's innovative historical materialism has a certain significance for us to understand and explain the philosophical implication of these important propositions.