Resolve Schmidt’s The Concept Of Nature In Marx

This thesis mainly studies the explanation and interpretation of Marx’s concept of naturedefined by Alfred Schmidt in the book The Concept of Nature in Marx. As one of the mostsignificant critics and modern western philosophers, Ceorg Lukacs puts forward in Historyand Structure: nature is a social category. Lukacs’s theory deeply influences on Frankfurtschool, which is celebrated for social critical theory, and the heir of Frankfurt school AlfredSchmidt. Schmidt re-examines Marxism and sets up his unique Marxism as the researchdirection. The Concept of Nature in Marx also expounds and proves from the same principleas a starting point.This thesis interprets the Marx’s concept of nature in Schmidt’s eyes from four parts:First part starts with the historical backgrounds of Schmidt’s researches on Marx’sconcept of nature. Schmidt’s Doctoral dissertation The Concept of Nature in Marx in1962and his academic experience lay a theoretical foundation for his researches on Marx’s conceptof nature. It narrates the view of early west Marxism, represented by Lukacs, on Marx’sconcept of nature, the view of Frankfurt school’s humanized nature and the influence ofSchmidt. To clarifying the theoretical logic, it divides The Concept of Nature in Marx intofive parts to study.Second part studies the main features of Schmidt’s concept of nature in Marx. From thecontent of the concept of nature and Marx’s concept of nature, this part discusses whatnoumenon is and how does Schmidt explain the issues on Marx Materialism non ontologyand the priority of external nature, summarizes the features and cores of Schmidt’s concept ofnature in Marx.Third part explores Schmidt’s criticism on Engels and Lenin’s the concept of nature. Itintroduces separately Engles’s concept of nature and the methodology of Lenin’s concept ofnature, and demonstrates Schmidt’s critical remarks on Engels and Lenin’s the concept ofnature. By analyzing Schmidt’s criticism, it summarizes the theoretical defects in Schmidt’sThe Concept of Nature in Marx.Last part discusses many theoretical values in Schmidt’s The Concept of Nature in Marx: the priority of external nature, the view of humanized nature, the practicality of naturalscience, the theoretical value of dialectical unity of natural history and human history. Finally,it analyzes the practical significance of Schmidt’s researches on Marx’s concept ofnature---the sustainable development.