Research On The Methods Of Marx And Engels’ Ideological And Political Education

Marx and Engels were great instructors of the proletarian revolution.They not only established theoretical theories on the complete liberation of the proletariat and the entire human race,but also required that this scientific theory be used to master the people,achieve the organic combination of spiritual and material weapons,and gather strong spiritual and material forces to recognize and transform the world.The ideological and political education methods of Marx and Engels are the methods they used to solve the major problem of "how theory grasps the people".By understanding and interpreting Marx and Engels’ classic texts as ideological and political education documents,and understanding and grasping Marx and Engels’ revolutionary activities as ideological and political education practices,the essential requirements and internal logic of their ideological and political education methods have gradually become clear.This is a rigorous logical system based on methodological principles,supported by general methods,and focused on specific methods.The three levels of methods are closely linked,interconnected,and organically combined.In general,Marx and Engels’ ideological and political education method has a firm people’s position,scientific theoretical character,and distinct practical orientation.It is a groundbreaking and innovative proletarian ideological and political education method.Deeply grasping the core meaning and essential requirements of Marx and Engels’ ideological and political education methods,actively exploring the scientific path of adhering to and developing these classic methods,is an inevitable requirement for the rectification and innovation of Marxist ideological and political education in the new era,and is of great significance for promoting the theoretical and practical development in the ideological field of contemporary China.The methodological principles of Marx and Engels’ ideological and political education are principled methods that have fundamental guiding significance for the theoretical and practical activities of ideological and political education,namely,contradiction analysis,historical analysis,and class analysis.This is not to transplant and copy philosophical methodology,but to use materialistic dialectics as the philosophical foundation of ideological and political education methods,using the methods of contradiction analysis,historical analysis,and class analysis to respond to and solve major theoretical propositions and practical problems in ideological and political education.Adhering to and applying the method of contradiction analysis is to understand the internal contradictions of ideological and political education from the perspective of unity of opposites,grasp the initiative of thinking in the unity of opposites between thinking and existence,grasp the leading role of thinking in the unity of opposites between thinking and interests,grasp the transformability of theory in the unity of opposites between theory and practice,and constantly clarify the existence foundation,occurrence mechanism,and mission of ideological and political education.Adhering to and applying the historical analysis method is to adhere to the unity of ideological and historical processes,adhere to the combination of logical methods and historical methods,promote the deepening of "concrete abstract concrete" theoretical thinking,and understand the essential laws and logical relationships of ideological and political education in the unity of logic and history.Adhering to the use of class analysis means using the perspective of class and class struggle to grasp the object of education,recognize the relationship between ourselves and the enemy,analyze the social situation,analyze class interests in the investigation of production methods,analyze class ideology in the investigation of spiritual life,and analyze class will in the investigation of action characteristics,so as to clarify the class position,mission,and policies and strategies of ideological and political education.The general method of Marx and Engels’ ideological and political education is to carry out and fully implement its methodological principles within the overall logic of ideological and political education,including critical disclosure method,theoretical indoctrination method,persuasion education method,emotional infection method,and propaganda and agitation method.They define the main development dimensions and commitment direction of ideological and political education,and together support the main logic and overall process of ideological and political education.The purpose of the law of critical disclosure is to expose reactionary ideas,refute wrong ideas,correct ideological deviations,and guide people to "make the most thorough break with traditional ideas" in their thinking and "make a complete break with traditional ownership relations" in reality.The principle of theoretical indoctrination emphasizes the continuous,repeated,and powerful transmission of "strict scientific ideas and correct theories" to the "spiritual garden" of the people,making them undergo the impact,refining,and baptism of "ideological lightning".The law of persuasion education requires rational reasoning,rational reasoning,and convincing people with reason.It thoroughly ensures the armed forces of theory to the masses and the mastery of theory by the masses through the dual functions of "theory itself" and "theoretical persuasion.".The emotional infection method focuses on grasping emotional factors such as feelings,perceptions,emotions,and emotions,moving people with emotion,moving from emotion to reason,and blending emotions with reason,continuously enhancing the affinity and appeal of ideological and political education,truly reaching deep into the hearts of the people and touching the soul.Propaganda and agitation of the law mean spreading scientific ideas,widely gathering consensus,inspiring revolutionary forces,and establishing a "unity of thought and action" among millions of people.These five general methods not only differ from each other,have their own emphasis and direction,but also intersect,link up,and complement each other,forming a closely integrated and collaborative organic whole.The specific methods of Marx and Engels’ ideological and political education are the product of the implementation of methodological principles and general methods into the practical activities of ideological and political education.The methods at this level have been embodied in the selection of channels,carriers,platforms,and channels,and have been refined to the use of methods,means,measures,and methods,which can be used to guide the implementation of various aspects of ideological and political education.The specific methods are numerous,detailed,clear,and highly executable.This article cannot list all of them,but rather conducts a relatively in-depth analysis of several representative and referential methods,such as critical education method,letter communication method,newspaper publicity method,speech agitation method,and labor union struggle method.To apply the critical education method,it is necessary to ensure the frankness and impartiality of criticism,adhere to the combination of criticism and self criticism,and adhere to the combination of unity and criticism.Implementing the letter communication method means,on the one hand,using letter communication to strengthen the exchange of ideas between people,and on the other hand,relying on communication organizations to expand revolutionary propaganda.In applying the method of newspaper propaganda,it is necessary to pay attention to strengthening the party spirit and the people’s character of the newspapers and periodicals,making the newspapers and periodicals the "eyes and ears" and "mouthpiece" of the people,forging the party newspaper into the "banner" and "position" of the party,and using the party newspaper as a "weapon" of self criticism.Regarding the method of speech agitation,Marx and Engels emphasized the need to cultivate true proletarian speakers,and to clarify social reality and solve social problems for the people through speeches rich in artistic skills.The implementation of the Trade Union Struggle Law is to organize workers to carry out economic struggles for material interests,and in this economic struggle,provide political training to the workers,preparing them for and laying the foundation for further political struggles.Specific methods are most susceptible to the impact of social and material living conditions,and they most need to be innovated and upgraded iteratively with the development of the times and technological progress.Marx and Engels’ pioneering exploration of ideological and political education methods has important historical,practical,and theoretical values.They have opened up a scientific path for the ideological struggle of the proletariat,accumulated a large amount of practical experience in ideological and political work,and created a theoretical paradigm for Marxist ideological and political education methods.Under the new historical circumstances and conditions of the times,to construct a system of ideological and political education methods that truly conforms to the spirit of Marxism,we should adhere to the ideological and political education methods of Marx and Engels as an important guiding basis,combine them with the excellent traditional Chinese culture,the centennial ideological and political work experience of the CPC,and the specific reality of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era,Constantly open up a new realm of sinicization and modernization of Marx and Engels’ ideological and political education methods,and let Marx and Engels’ ideological and political education methods glow with distinctive Chinese characteristics and fresh flavor of the times.