The Dual Connotations Of Self-Consciousness In Marx’s "Doctoral Dissertation"

Marx’s doctoral dissertation,The Difference between Democritus’ and Epicurus’ Philosophy of Nature(hereinafter referred to as the "Doctoral Dissertation"),is an important text in his early exposition of the theory of self-consciousness,and is one of the most representative works of the young Marx.Self-consciousness is an important concept in Marx’s "Doctoral Dissertation",in which Marx analyzes the differences between Democritus’ and Epicurus’ natural philosophy and elucidates the theory of self-consciousness in depth.On the basis of his inheritance and transcendence of previous philosophies,Marx further explained the importance of individual self-consciousness,exalted human subjectivity and freedom,and explained in depth the process of generating free self-consciousness,and gave self-consciousness a speculative connotation in the process of self-abnegation.However,self-consciousness cannot only reside in the dimension of discernment,it must face and solve different problems of the times,and it must cut into social reality.Thus,Marx gives self-consciousness a realistic connotation,in order to resist the unreasonable social reality and liberate man from irrational religious hostage and all fetters,showing Marx’s profound insight into real life.Marx used the weapon of "negation" to launch a fierce attack on religion,so that self-consciousness could completely escape from divinity and return to humanity,thus completing the theoretical breakthrough from self-consciousness to real man.In order to examine the relationship between philosophy and the world in greater depth,Marx initially explored the interaction between the two and put forward the proposition that "the universalization of philosophy is the philosophizing of the world".The interaction between philosophy and the world prompted philosophy to abandon its inherent defects,and the world became more rationalized in the process.On the surface,the young Marx is discussing the difference between Democritus and Epicurus in the philosophy of nature,but in fact he is developing a dual connotation of the theory of self-consciousness,that is,speculation and realism.The speculative and realistic connotations of self-consciousness in the "Doctoral Dissertation" demonstrate Marx’s concern for the real world and his thinking about the problems of his time.The idea of freedom based on self-consciousness in the "Doctoral Dissertation" laid a solid theoretical foundation for the creation of Marx’s materialistic view of history and his later critical theory of capital.