A Study On Marx’s Technological Innovation Thought

Technological innovation plays an important role in the development history of human society.Through his study of technological innovation and its social impact in capitalist society,Marx not only affirmed the crucial role of technological innovation in enhancing productivity but also profoundly revealed the bidirectional influence between technological innovation and production relations.Previous studies have often emphasized Marx’s thoughts on technological innovation at the productivity level,neglecting the profound insights at the production relations level.However,the essence of Marx’s thoughts on technological innovation lies precisely in his critique of technological innovation under capitalist control from the perspective of production relations.At this important juncture of China’s shift to high-quality development and the prominence of technological leadership,a comprehensive and systematic examination of Marx’s thoughts on technological innovation,tracing its origins,clarifying Marx’s stance and viewpoints,and establishing the dominant discourse on Marx’s technological innovation thoughts,holds significant importance for formulating current technological innovation policies and establishing a Chinese discourse system.Based on Marx’s classic works,this paper takes Marx’s thoughts on technological innovation as the research object and follows the internal logic of the generation dimensions(history,theory,practice)-research objects,themes,and methods-essential connotations-practical impacts-contemporary inspirations of Marx’s thoughts on technological innovation.It reveals the essence of Marx’s thoughts on technological innovation,which is inherently tied to the capital-controlled production process aimed at extracting surplus value and accelerating its realization,as well as the intrinsic mechanism through which technological innovation impacts the economic and social structure and long-term development of capitalist society.Marx’s technological innovation thought has three dimensions: historical origin,historical background and theoretical foundation.The traditionally high regard for science and technology on the European continent not only influenced the development of European society but also provided new perspectives for Marx,who was situated in Europe,to understand social development issues.The technological innovations brought about by the Industrial Revolution in European society prompted Marx to reflect on the role of science and technology in social development.Meanwhile,the thoughts of classical political economists on technological innovation and the contemporaneous philosophers and scientists on the European continent further inspired Marx’s contemplation of technological innovation,providing nourishment for the formation of his thoughts on technological innovation.The origin and research objects of Marx’s thoughts of technological innovation is to explore the relationship between technological innovation and social development.The transformation of technological innovation from the logic of capital to the logic of comprehensive human development is the research theme of Marx’s thoughts on technological innovation;historical materialism and dialectical materialism are the research methods running through Marx’s thoughts on technological innovation.According to Marx,the essence of technological innovation is a tool for capital to control labor.From the perspective of dialectical materialism,Marx believed that technological innovation not only promotes the development of productivity but also drives the transformation of production relations.There exists a contradictory unity between technological innovation and production relations.Within a certain range of production relations,technological innovation further consolidates production relations;however,when production relations cannot adapt to the development of productivity,they will hinder and impede the development of technological innovation.In Marx’s view,technological innovation has had an important impact on capitalist society.At the micro level,Marx pointed out that the main body of technological innovation in capitalist society includes not only capitalists,but also scientists engaged in scientific research,workers and government institutions.This paper expounds the dynamic mechanism of technological innovation in capitalist society,and puts forward that the inner driving force of technological innovation in capitalist society is to control the production process and the realization process of surplus value.In addition,the pressure of external competition and market demand are also important driving forces for technological innovation.At the meso level,Marx believed that technological innovation promotes the advancement of economic structure;technological innovation,through its impact on the organic composition of capital,manifests in the industrial structure as the growth of production in the first category of production(production of means of production)taking precedence over the growth of production in the second category(production of consumer goods for workers and capitalists).At the same time,technological innovation brings about changes in economic structure and a tendency towards deindustrialization.At the macro level,Firstly,the uneven distribution of labor and capital caused by technological innovation leads to insufficient consumption under the capitalist system,resulting in economic fluctuations,with economic balance achieved through the destruction of surplus production capacity.Meanwhile,technological innovation creates new demand,accelerates the realization of surplus value,and promotes economic growth.Secondly,technological innovation raises the organic composition of capital,leading to crises of declining average profit rates,with the way out of these crises being precisely through the "creative destruction" brought about by technological innovation,which promotes the renewal of fixed assets.Thirdly,technological innovation disrupts the balance of total social capital reproduction,with the economy growing through fluctuations that form a new equilibrium.Marx’s technological innovation thought plays an important role in the development of new quality productive forces and the construction of an innovation-oriented country.Technological innovation is logically consistent with China’s goals of achieving common prosperity and harmonious labor-capital relations.For the current socialist construction in China,We must firmly take the road of technological innovation in the concept of development;give full play to the advantages of the socialist system in the technological innovation system;emphasize the state-owned enterprises’ roles as the main bodies of technological innovation;combine autonomy with international cooperation in technological innovation methods;adhere to the people-oriented value orientation in the value of technological innovation;and strengthen the distribution of benefits to laborers in technological innovation allocation.