A Study On The Ethical Thought Of Marx's Doctoral Dissertation

Marx`s doctoral dissertation——The Difference between the Natural Philosophy of Democritus and that of Epicurus(hereinafter referred to as the Doctoral Dissertation)is the representative work in his schooldays and his first relatively systematic academic work.Although Marx didn`t write a special work on ethics in his life,many of his works contain rich ethical thoughts.His doctoral thesis is such a work that contains ethical ideas.Any thought is a product of the times.The background of Marx`s ethical thoughts of the Doctoral Dissertation is the social and historical process of German bourgeoisie striving for democracy,freedom and equality in the 19~thh century.Therefore,his ethical thoughts are deeply influenced by the spirit of France and Germany.Generally speaking,Marx`s ethical thoughts in the Doctoral Dissertation mainly focus on these three aspects:Man is the aim,Man is subject,free thought.Based on Epicurus`s epistemology and his points about‘sensibility is the standard of all cognition'and‘the accidental existence of all things',Marx dissected its subjectivity,revealed the tendency of the research center of philosophy in the late ancient Greece from nature to human beings.Through dialectical interpretation of the atomic motion process envisaged by Epicurus,Marx also understood each stage of atomic movement as a gradual process of self-consciousness.And from the angle of the relationship between freedom and certainty,he criticized the negative spiritual freedom of Epicurus.Marx`s interpretation of Epicurus`s philosophy is essentially to explain the subjective status and free nature of human beings by natural philosophy and atomic movement.The ethical thought in the Doctoral Dissertation is the starting point of Marx`s related ethical thought.The study is of great significance to understand the integrity of Marx`s ethical thought and to grasp the essence of Marx`s ethical thought.