Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No.8, 2019

Research Paradigms for the Theoretical Evolution of Historical Materialism

(Abstract)

Cao Dianshun

The German Ideology is the classic account of historical materialism, “but being stuck on this judgment may obscure the exploration of the staged logical structure in the theoretical evolution of historical materialism. Marx’s historical materialism went through three stages and presents three research paradigms. The research paradigm of historical materialism in its first stage takes on the pattern of philosophical criticism, theoretically seeking to find out the general law of human social development. The research paradigm of historical materialism in the second stage adopts the style of the critique of political economy,” which reveals why historical materialism can regard its service in social practice as its theoretical vitality. The research paradigm of historical materialism in the third stage follows the example of anthropological studies, fulfilling its theoretical mission in the world history by showing how historical materialism should be. The theoretical visions revealed by the dimensions of anthropologic research, which were developed by Marx from the perspective of materialism, further enriched the theoretical value of the “two great discoveries.” The future-oriented theoretical mission of the third research paradigm should be continued by later Marxists after the social and historical conditions become mature, that is, the study of historical materialism should not be a research that has been thoroughly done once it is discovered, it is instead a dynamic research based on philosophical essence.