A Study Of The Influence Of The Theory Of Evolution On The Thinking Of Early Chinese Marxists

Ever since the Opium War,tremendous changes that haven't been seen in thousands of years now took place in China.In this grave hour,people with lofty ideals started to learn,absorb and spread western thoughts.The theory of evolution,also known as Darwinism,as a trend of thought that has huge impact,helped the Chinese open the gate to modern times.Darwinism has sufficiently played the part as catalyst especially to the wide spread and continuous influence of Marxism in China.For that reason,it is crucially important to examine the connection between Darwinism and Marxism,so as to understand and promote Marxism in a Chinese way.It is not the objective of this dissertation to merely discuss generally about this theme but to analyze the actual manifestation and modern value of the impact of Darwinism to the mind of early Chinese Marxist.This dissertation includes the following four parts:Part one,the theoretical and practical significance of the theme is unveiled through literature analysis and historical research,and by combing and evaluating current research findings,we manage to clear out a way for independent research ideas and methods.Part two,definitions to the connotations of Darwinism and Marxism are given and the differences between the two are pointed out so as to draw out the field of this study.First,the elaboration of the connotation of Darwinism.The early dissemination of Darwinism in China is also discussed in two aspects:the media and the cause.Second,the identification of the concepts:Marxism,early Chinese Marxist and the dissemination of Marxism in China.Last,an analysis of the connections and differences between Darwinism and Marxism.Part three,the impact of Darwinism to early Chinese Marxism is deeply analyzed.A few representative figures of early Chinese Marxist are selected as analytic targets.They are analyzed under three categories:Dialectical Materialist Thought,Historical Materialism and Socialism.We can have a better understanding of their intake and reform of the Darwinism,and their actual changes on views and values.Part four,the historical role the Darwinism played to the Chinese modern society is analyzed through the perspective of social history.The influence of Darwinism is fully discussed from two aspects:positive and negative.Also,a comment to its modern value is given.The understanding of the connection between Darwinism and Marxism,the exploration of ideal change of early Chinese Marxist and its theoretical origin,the analysis of the historical process of shift from Darwinism to Marxism in the modern society are all beneficial to the advancement of theoretical innovation and to staying in the right course of development of Socialism with Chinese characteristics.