Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No.8, 2020

The Interpretive Dimensions of the Theoretical Orientation of the Capital

(Abstract)

Bu Xiangji

Capital has a variety of theoretical orientations, and involves a variety of interpretive dimensions of economics, philosophy, political philosophy and so on. As the two most influential ways of interpretation, the interpretation of Capital oriented towards economics and that oriented towards philosophy reveal not only theoretical rationality but also strong complementarity. If research on Capital based on economic theory and its technical level is committed to the improvement of the theoretical system of Marxist political economy, the interpretive dimension oriented towards philosophy will help in presenting the contemporary value of Capital more comprehensively. However, due to different understandings of the basic nature of Marxist philosophy, a variety of interpretive schemes have emerged concerning the philosophy-oriented interpretive dimensions in Capital. It is only on the basis of historical materialism that we can truly present the intrinsic relationship between Marxist philosophy and Capital, and substantively demonstrate the contemporary value of Capital. To establish the intrinsic relationship between Marxist philosophy and Capital on the basis of historical materialism, we must first clarify the orientation of Capital with respect to historical materialism, that is, historical materialism is a great achievement that broke away from Hegelian philosophy and a theoretical creation that serves and belongs to research topics concerning Capital. True historical materialism exists in Capital; that is the theoretical orientation of historical materialism in Capital. In this regard, Capital is not only a great economic work, but also a great theoretical masterpiece of historical materialism.