Marx's Moral Theory And Utilitarianism

In the history of Western thought,utilitarianism and obligation theory are two opposing moral theories.As a moral theory,utilitarianism gradually gained systematic development from the end of the eighteenth century.Marx repeatedly criticized classical utilitarianism in his works.Although his moral thoughts exist in a very scattered form,not a complete theoretical theory,he can find a large amount of text in many of his works and letters as evidence support.Among the many scholars who study Marx's theory and thought,some scholars have debated whether Marx has a moral theory,and different definitions of the nature of his moral theory.Some research scholars have a negative attitude toward this issue.They believe that Marx's entire theoretical system has nothing to do with morality.Some research scholars believe that although Marx's moral theory has not been clearly stated and proposed by himself,but his theory and thoughts are a very complete system,and there is a moral theory implicit in his ideology.In the eyes of some research scholars,the theory is utilitarian.They also interpret Marx's thoughts and theories as utilitarianism of various natures and forms.Of course,there are also some research scholars who disagree.They also believe that Marx has a moral theory,but they oppose the classification of Marx's moral theory as utilitarianism and the interpretation of Marx as a utilitarian;others among them think that Marx the moral theory is a kind of obligation theory or a mixed obligation theory.In domestic related research,some scholars believe that Marx has moral theory and his moral theory has utilitarianism;some scholars believe that Marx's moral theory is derived from and influenced by Western utilitarianism.So,what is the essence of Marx's moral theory? This thesis holds that Marx's moral theory is neither a utilitarian theory nor a simple obligation theory,but it is not completely unrelated to the two.Marx's moral theory is the dialectical unity of utilitarianism and obligation theory.It is based on social practice and historical materialism.It not only starts from the essence of human beings,but also discards and surpasses the bourgeois utilitarianism on the basis of scientific judgment of utilitarianism.Doctrine also draws on certain factors of the obligation theory and forms a revolutionary Marxist utilitarian view.The utilitarian view of the Marxist revolution is consistent with the final appeal of Marxist theory.Both are free and comprehensive development as the goal of struggle,and the pursuit of human liberation is the theoretical destination.It is the true criticism and theoretical transcendence of Western utilitarianism.