From Abstract To Concrete, Analysis Of Marx's Study Of Russian Social Development Methodology

During the1870s and1880s, Marx keep an eye on Russia’ssocial development. Through investigations, analysis andillustrations, he proposes some original ideas. He believes thatRussian society may overpass Cafudin Valley of the Capitalism andenter into socialism directly under certain conditions.Remarkably, Marx’s investigations on Russian society, fromunfamiliarity to familiarity and from primary studies to theoryformation, is virtually a process of Russianization of Marx’sphilosophical outlook and methodology, and also a process ofcombination of Marxist philosophy and Russian situations.Moreover,it is a process of the abstract theory of Historical Materialismbecoming concrete in Russia, and a process of HistoricalMaterialism’s rise from abstract philosophy to vivid, rich andconcrete details. In that process, Marx consciously implement themethod of analyzing from abstract to concrete, which is clearlyshown from four perspectives, viz, imbedding tempo-spatialdimension, insisting limited reason, establishing behavioral logicand using complex thinking.From these four perspectives, Marx not only develops hisabstract and general understandings of Russian society into vividand concrete thinking, but also enriches and develops HistoricalMaterialism. The focus of this essay is not on the contents of Marx’sstudies of Russian society yet on the method that he takes. Therefore,this essay takes his research method instead of the content itself as the research object. Researching into Marx’s thinking logic of hisstudies on Russian society from the perspective of philosophicalmethodology can help us grasp the essence of his studies andenlighten us methodologically on our way to solve social problemsand explore socialism with Chinese characteristics.