Engels’s Theory Of "Historical Resultant Force"

In the middle and late 19 th century,bourgeois scholars represented by Barthes and the "youth group" in the German Socialist Democratic Party criticized and distorted historical materialism.Engels put forward the idea of "Historical Resultant Theory",which not only responded to these malicious criticisms,but also developed,perfected and defended historical materialism.he study of Engels’ theory of "historical resultant force" in academic circles is generally based on Engels’ communication to Bloch.They understand the resultant force of historical resultant force as the resultant force of individual will.This view is consistent with Engels’ thought of historical resultant force,but it is one-sided.In Ludwig Feuerbach and the End of German Classical Philosophy,Engels’ theory of "historical resultant force" is a theory starting from the resultant force produced by the conflict of individual will.Engels further distinguished the personal will into the will of heroes and the will of the masses,believing that the history of the masses is the real history.These masses manifest themselves as different classes in different social forms,and their struggle is the motive force of historical development.But in the final analysis,Engels believes that the resultant force of individual will or class struggle is determined by economic factors.That is to say,it is one-sided for the traditional viewpoint to only discuss the resultant force of will and ignore the other motive forces behind it.If the resultant force of individual will is understood as one aspect of the theory of historical resultant force,then when we consider class struggle and economic factors as part of the theory of historical resultant force,we are on the way to a complete understanding of the theory of historical resultant force.In his letter to Bloch,Engels clearly put forward the theory of "historical synergy".He believed that innumerable factors such as economy,politics,culture,religion and tradition interact to promote the development of history.This is also neglected by the traditional research on the theory of historical resultant force.The theory of "historical resultant force" realizes the unity of the contingency of individual will and the inevitability of economic law.While explaining that historical motive force is in the final analysis an economic factor,it does not ignore the role of individual will.The theory of "historical resultant force" points out the general law ofsocial and historical development.Therefore,"the theory of historical resultant force" has the historical regularity of historical materialism.Engels’ thought enriches Marxist theory,has extremely important theoretical value in enriching,perfecting and defending historical materialism,and has important practical guiding significance for building a socialist country and a harmonious society in China.