Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No.11, 2019

Transformation in the Form of a Beautiful Life and Its Value Guidance in the New Era

(Abstract)

Xiang Jiuyu

A “beautiful life in the new era,” a proposition unique to 21st century Marxism, is based on the historical originality of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Along with the transformation of the main contradictions in Chinese society, “a beautiful life in the new era” has become a new way of life. Of course, this new way of life complements new development ideas. On the one hand, the proposition of new development principles is based on the transformation of people’s way of life, so the inherent purport of the two is closely related; on the other, the proposition of such principles will further promote the construction of “a beautiful life in the new era” at the level of practice, and will play a key leading role in the resolution of major social contradictions. Therefore, to comprehensively understand the revolutionary significance of a beautiful life in the new era under the new development principles, we must gain an inherent grasp of the various forms of a beautiful life in the new era, including subjective forms, forms of occurrence, forms of realization and external forms. These forms have as their theoretical support such concepts as the “principal status of the people, Party guidance,” “transformation of contradictions, integration of supply and demand,” “labor orientation, co-creation and sharing,” and “homogeneous ideals extended worldwide,” constituting a unique Chinese style. In the building of socialism with Chinese characteristics, or modernization, only the sublating of “dependence mediated by things” and adherence to the practical intention of “free personality” can fulfill the “return” of a beautiful life in the new era toward “man himself,” and achieve value guidance for China’s path.