The Theory Of Marxism Metaphysical Dimension

As an instinct for human reason, metaphysics displays a tendency for love of wisdom and it constitutes a constant and thorough exploration of everything in the world, in other words, pursuit of fundamental principles of the first cause. From time immemorial metaphysics has shouldered the heavy responsibility of enlightening human mind. During its evolution for more than 2000 years, metaphysics was pushed to the limit by Hegel, the epitome of German classic philosophy; the thinking pattern characterized by speculation renders philosophy illusory and mysterious. All modern Western philosophers adopted “rejection of metaphysics” as their tenet and Marxist philosophy also took a clear-cut stance critical of metaphysics. For a time, “termination of metaphysics” became a main argument in academia. But metaphysics itself can be interpreted in a broad sense and in a narrow sense respectively. Due to vague understanding of metaphysics and mistaken equation of “metaphysics” in a narrow sense—the thinking pattern in opposition to dialectics – with metaphysics in a philosophical and cultural sense, philosophy and metaphysics were plunged into a crisis without precedent. In modern times metaphysics representative of human reason declined drastically, and humankind lost itself, lost standards for evaluation of all things and slipped into an embarrassing state of inability to differentiate right from wrong amid blind worship of and total dependence on science and technology; metaphysics had to struggle hard in the crisis of modernity. Through analysis of the Marxist classic literature, this thesis maintains that what Marx criticizes is metaphysics in a narrow sense, that is, the thinking pattern in opposition to dialectics. In essence, Marxist philosophy includes “metaphysical thought” from start to finish. His criticism of metaphysics does not amount to total abandonment; it aims at a paradigm shift that reverts to reality and lays emphasis on actual emancipation of humanity. For Marxist philosophy, a crisis of modernity is another human “alienation”. Overcoming the crisis of modernity is not only a task for modern Marxism, but also a trend for future development of Marxism. This thesis, by absorbing the ideological essence of post-metaphysicians, conducts an exploration of meanings of Marxist post-metaphysics. It is both a retrospect of real problems in modern society and a main theme of constructing Marxist contemporary values and socialist value system with characteristics.