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ATentativeStudyontheViewofMarxist
PhilosophyofHumanNature
XieXiaorui
TheBasicTenetsofMarxismMajor,IdeologicalandPoliticalTheoryTeachingandResearchDepartment,
ChongqingJiaotongUniversity,China
ChongqingJiaotongUniversityGraduateDepartment,No.66UniversitiesAvenue,NananDistrict,Chongqing,
China400074
rui992281431@126.com
Abstract
Keywords
KarlMarx;ViewsonHumanity;Content;Characteristic;Modern
Inspiration
Introduction
What is human nature? At all times and in all
countries the thinkers and philosophers who having
beentryingtoreachaconsensusonthequestionthey
have debated for thousands of years. However, the
seniors, failing to be aware of the importance of
practice, studied human nature out of social practice,
whichleedstobeinglostintheabstractunderstanding
of human nature. As a tutor of the proletariat, Marx
have worked all his life for the emancipation of
mankindaswellasexploredhumannature.However,
unlike other philosophers, Marx combined the study
withpractice.Accordingtotheprinciplethathistroyis
createdbypractice,atthesametimeitisimprovedby
changing, he explored the subject of human nature
correctly,scientificallyandfully.
FreedomofConsciouslifeActivityisFundamentalto
HumanAttribute
In previous investigations of human nature, many
peopletookthefreeexpressiononprimitivedesireof
people,orasinglepersonalwayastheultimategoalof
human nature. This is a misunderstanding of human
nature. Philosophic Foundation of the studies of
Marxs human nature comes from the description of
labor. He explained the fundamental attribute of
humannaturebycomparinghumanwithanimallabor.
In his view, human production is free, conscious,
www.seipub.org/ijpsInternationalJournalofPhilosophyStudy(IJPS)Volume1Issue1,April2013
is
Generalizability
Plato believes that different people has different
nature and the development for everyone is the
complement of each kind of human nature. Partly
absorbed the Platonic view, Marx puts forward that
the essence of human nature is the sum of social
relationships and it actually contains two important
points: one, human nature is an overarching concept;
second, human nature can be realized only through
society. Marxs theory of total person is actually the
person who is fully socialized. The socialized human
nature is the sum of all personality. And when
personal needs amount to all requirements of
mankind,humannatureisfullyrealized.Sothelabor
which said by Marx is also like this. When each
individual can have labor skills and enjoy the
development fruits freely, and without the restriction
ofothernaturalsocialconditions,humanlaboristhe
realfreeconsciousactivity.
the
Marxbelievesthatpeoplehaveanaturalattributeand
socialattribute.Thenaturalattributeofhumanbeings
is the ability to change the nature. He considered
labour as medium between human and nature.He
believed that people changing nature as well as
themselves through labour. At the same time, people
alsohavetheirsocialattribute.Peoplecantexistinthe
worldasanindividual.Everypersonhasthecommon
nature of human being. And human beings are the
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InternationalJournalofPhilosophyStudy(IJPS)Volume1Issue1,April2013www.seipub.org/ijps
Hierarchy
Practicalness
Practicalness,thathumannatureisdevelopedwiththe
development of social practice. What Marx studied is
realistic person, so the human nature what he said is
alsothehumannatureofreality.Peopleareinvarious
socialactivities.Thechangesofproductionmodeand
relationswillinevitablyleadtothechangesofhuman
nature. Theres no changeless human nature which
applies to all ages. In this case, Marx always talks
about human nature from practice. He believes that
thedifferentlevelsofdevelopmentmakesthedifferent
humannature.Thustherearedifferentcharacteristics
andnature.Inthedevelopmentofacertainperiodof
history,manifestationsofhumannaturearedifferent.
For example, the relationship between egoism and
altruism, in primitive society and the future
communist society, altruistic is much more obvious
but the egoism is not obvious. So do the reason and
desire. In modern society, due to the unprecedented
development of the productive forces, it is often
manifested that desire overcomes the reason in many
cases. Man is the master of dsire but gradually
enslaved by desire. In this case, the crisis of modern
society is human crisis, and it is the selfdestruction
crisis result from human nature unlimited desires
expansion.Onlyinpracticeandthehumannaturecan
be coordinated with all aspects , can the crisis of
modernityberesolved.
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Generallyspeaking,Marxrespectsthevalueofperson.
He advocates human freedom and comprehensive
development and realization of human liberation. He
foundedtheMarxistscientifictheoryofhumannature.
Marxs theory of human nature associated with the
development of a country closely, and it is not only
has theoretical significance, but also be of great
importancetopracticalsignificance.
MarxHumanityRevelationoftheTheoryofBuilding
aHarmoniousSociety
In the practice of building a harmonious society,
Marxstheoryofhumannatureinspireusdeeplyand
profoundly. The following points have the practical
guidance significance: Firstly, labor is the essence of
humanbeing,onlythroughlaborcanthelifevaluebe
proved and realized, can the contribution for the
construction harmonious society be provided. Then,
anyone who likes ease and dislikes work is a crime
against humanity perfection and development.It even
will not only lead to the atrophy and loss of human
nature but also add factors of disharmony for society
andthemselves.Secondly,thenatureofhumanreality
isthesumofallsocialrelations.Practicalrelationship
determines the nature of the people. Going deep into
the social practice of the masses and learning are
practicing and promoting the nature of human. It is
the only way to get the perfection of personality,
personal success and happiness. And it is also the
direct practice of building a harmonious society.
Finally,sincetherichnessofpersonsneedistheproof
of humane progress development, people must be a
littleenergetic,andpursueahighlevelandlofty,keep
the body and mind harmonious. At present, the
important manifestation of peoples physical and
mental disharmony is psychotic disorders which in
the unprecedented increase. So far, depression is
becoming the worlds biggest killer, and the main
cause is peoples material expansion desires. In the
consumption society, the human nature theory of
Marxhelpsusdevelopahealthyconsumptionconcept,
andavoidbecomingtheslavesofdesire,leadingtothe
alienationofhumannature.Inbrief,Marxstheoryof
humannaturerevealsthemysteryofhumannature.It
hasrevealedthemysteryofhumannatureandbethe
guide of scientific development of the human nature
theory. Marxs view of human nature and its
development have directive significance for the
constructionofharmonioussocietydirectly.
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