On The Formative Process Of Engels’ Historical Materialism

Friedrich Engels is a great German philosopher,thinker and revolutionist.As Marx’s close comrades in arms,they jointly founded historical materialism.First of all,Engels displayed the spirit of longing for freedom and pursuing truth in Letter from the Ubbe Valley,which laid the foundation for the formation of his materialistic world outlook.Secondly,Engels formed the world outlook of materialism from the starting point of Hegel’s philosophy through the intermediate link of Feuerbach’s philosophy.Thirdly,by reviewing the life and work conditions of the British working class and reflecting on the "real life world",he created the British Working Class Situation,from which he began to explore a road of historical materialism.Through the exchange of ideas,the historic door of their great friendship was opened.Finally,after reaching an agreement,they began to co-write Holy Family and German Ideology,which criticized idealistic historical view and old materialism,and expounded a series of basic views such as historical materialism.Engels made outstanding contributions in the process of the formation of historical materialism.Studying the process of its formation is of great significance for us to learn and apply the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and master the Marxist position,views and methods.Engels and Marx’s transformation to historical materialism is synchronous.In the process of transformation to materialism,Marx realized it mainly through philosophical and political criticism,while Engels realized it mainly through social and economic practice.However,a few bourgeois scholars believe that Engels and Marx’s ideas are opposite.This topic is a study of the formation process of Engels’ historical materialism,which is of great significance to Engels both personally and as a whole.It is conducive to criticizing the historical nihilism of "Marx Engels antithesis",deepening the understanding of Engels’ historical materialism,and adhering to and developing the basic views and methodology of historical materialism,It is conducive to consciously use historical materialism ideological weapons to transform the objective world.This article is divided into four parts: The first part is the basic conditions for the formation of Engels’ historical materialism.The main contents include: the conditions of the times,the theoretical origin and Engels’ subjective conditions.The second part is the first stage of Engels’ historical materialism: from subjective idealism to materialism.It is mainly divided into the Bremen period,the Berlin period and the Manchester period.The third part is the second stage of Engels’ historical materialism: from materialism to historical materialism.It mainly includes three periods: the initial exploration period,the approaching period and the formation period of historical materialism.The fourth part is the basic characteristics,important experience and significance of Engels’ historical materialism.This part will summarize the basic characteristics of the formation of his historical materialism,summarize the important experience of his thought formation,and finally discuss the significance of his thought formation for us.