On The Ideas Of Science As A Whole In The Chapter “Machine” In Das Kapital

Since the 18 th century,science and technology have flourished unprecedentedly,and means of production represented mainly by machines have emerged as the times require,and social productive forces have undergone epoch-making changes.However,in capitalist society,the use of machines breeds utilitarian thoughts in science.The instrumental rationality and utilitarianism of capital occupy the dominant position in society,and the alienation phenomena of science and human are rampant,and people’s freedom,spirit and body suffered great devastation.From the proletarian standpoint,Marx integrates natural science,social science and ancient Greek culture and thoughts,absorbs the mainstream values of caring human beings advocated during the Renaissance and the Enlightenment,and writes the chapter “Machinery and Modern Industry” in Capital.In this chapter,Marx abandons the instrumental rationality and utilitarianism in science.Starting from criticizing the capitalist use of machine,Marx discusses the relationships between machine and human’s existence,ideology,freedom and liberation,the relationship between machine and social development,and the relationship between machine and commercial activities,which contain profound scientific and cultural thoughts.The holistic scientific and cultural thoughts contained in the chapter “Machinery and Modern Industry” in Capital can be called theoretical treasures,with great charm and exploit value which come from the richness,profundity and uniqueness of the thoughts of the text.In terms of concrete content,Marx took historical materialism as the main theoretical basis,integrated natural science and social science as the whole research thinking,took the British Industrial Revolution and social development status as the background,took the construction of machinery,the social risk caused by machinery and the relationship between machinery and workers as the specific entry point,and ultimately he took the alienation of science and human beings as the main value orientation.On the whole,the value orientation of Marx’s holistic scientific and cultural outlook is embodied in three aspects: First,we should adhere to the people-oriented concept,that is,eliminating capital exploitation and class oppression and enhancing people’s sense of acquisition and happiness,so as to realize human freedom and liberation.Second,we should realize the healthy and orderly development of society.On the basis of social public ownership,we should eliminate instrumental rationality and utilitarianism in science,improve social management system,and enhance social morality and cultural identity.Third,we should promote the harmonious development of man and nature.Mankind should stop using science and technology to plunder nature,and man and nature should coexist in harmony.This thesis will deeply excavating the scientific and cultural thoughts contained in chapter “Machinery and Modern Industry” in Capital.It is of great importance to comprehensively understand the scientific,humanistic,social and cultural issues contained in this chapter.The thesis will also analyze and reveal the scientific connotation of Marx’s holistic scientific and cultural view in a historical way.It is of pioneering theoretical significance and contemporary significance to strengthen the comprehensive study of Marxist theory of science and technology.