The Critique And Transcendence Of Bourgeois Humanism In German Ideology

Influenced by the traditional western humanism thoughts,the early humanism considerations by Marx and Engels had some theoretic flaws and realistic predicaments.After the establishment of historical materialism and the completion of German Ideology,Marx and Engels shook off from their focus on "Person in Abstract" to“Person in Reality”,observing the social reality and people ” s existencial circumstances from a historic perspective and understanding human beings in social correlations and practices developed in real life,which scientifically distinguished their humanism from the bourgeoisie’s.After a time-consuming study,their criticism on the bourgeoisie’s humanism in German Ideology naturally indicated a transcendence over the bourgeois in form,content and essence and expressed the ideal of and the practical way to achieving the humanism.Although concurrently held by Marx and Engels and bourgeois,for the bourgeois,humanism appeared only as a slogan and means for achieving capital,and a whitewash for their imperialism.Marx and Engels analyzed and criticized capitalistic humanism in historical perspective and social practice,and stressed that humanism can only be accomplished in the socialist rather than capitalist society because the achievable humanism must be erected on the practical,social and historical bases.This article,based on Marx and Engels”German Ideology and their early works,analyzes the changes of Marxism’s humanism in different periods,lists the key points and the essence of transcendence with which Marx and Engels repudiated the bourgeois humanism.By discussing the attainability of the new Marxist humanism,this paper also focuses on the problems concerning resources,environment,war and human rights and the successful practice of socialist China in the global context and finds the values of German Ideology and its theoretical contribution to the criticism of the bourgeois humanism and its contemporary value.