Labor Theory: Exploring the Meaning of "The Collected Works of Marx and Engels"

Author: Chang Weiguo
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-03-01
Features: Labor is the essential activity of humanity. In Marxist theory, labor is placed at the foundation, origin, and even the center. Marx found the key to understanding the history of society in the history of labor, calling labor the "sun" around which society revolves. Comrade Chang Weiguo of the Propaganda Department of the Liaoning Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China wrote Labor Theory—Exploring the Meaning of The Collected Works of Marx and Engels, which starts from an in-depth understanding of the role of labor in Marxism to share insights gained from years of studying The Collected Works of Marx and Engels. It is an important work that helps us deeply understand Marxism. Labor Theory is a work imbued with unwavering ideals and scientific exploration. It conducts a series of significant theoretical explorations around clarifying the fundamental principles and spirit of Marxism, the position, role, and historical destiny of labor in scientific socialist theory, and the development of labor in Marxist scientific socialism.
The author traces the origins of The Collected Works of Marx and Engels, accurately grasps the roots of Marxist development, and seeks to find Marxism in a scientific sense. The author seeks transcendence through return, striving to dispel ideological and free themselves from erroneous and dogmatic interpretations of Marxism, placing theory on a reliable scientific foundation. This enables a clear understanding and grasp of the direction for further developing Marxism and scientific socialism, achieving true progress in line with the times.
Labor Theory fully elaborates on the position of labor in Marxist scientific socialism. Through systematic study of The Collected Works of Marx and Engels, the book provides an in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the essence of Marxism, fully demonstrating the significance of labor for human existence, all social life, the formation and development of all social relationships and ideas, as well as the foundation, prerequisites, and decisive role in all historical development, particularly in the theory and practice of scientific socialism.
By conducting a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of Marx and Engels' views on the relationships between labor and nature, labor and production, labor and society, labor and politics, labor and consciousness, labor and revolution, labor and freedom, and labor and science, the author further clarifies the Marxist principle that labor created the world and human beings themselves, being the source of human civilization and progress. It particularly delves into the profound significance of labor in the establishment of historical materialism, the theory of surplus value, and the foundation and core of Marxism by Marx and Engels.
The author argues that correctly understanding labor fundamentally involves recognizing the worldview issue of truly understanding the real world, the relationships between various social phenomena, and the prospects for human development. Labor Theory holds significant implications and enlightenment for us today. First, it reminds us to skillfully use Marxist scientific socialism to guide the resolution of major theoretical and practical issues concerning the future of socialism. Understanding history requires a broad perspective. The emphasis on Labor Theory today is because, in the current world, there still exist contradictions between labor and capital, between laborers and exploiters, the separation of laborers from the means of production, and the ongoing liberation and development of labor. Moreover, there remains the issue of liberating labor and laborers to liberate and develop productive forces. Therefore, it is essential to continuously clarify and uphold Marxist labor theory, stand firmly on the side of laborers, uphold their fundamental interests, and promote the liberation of productive forces and progress in the economy and society.
Second, Labor Theory reminds us to deeply recognize the powerful historical vitality of Marxist labor theory and its guiding role in the present. In the 21st century, scientific and technological progress has rapidly contributed to productivity, and the roles of management, information consulting, and production factors in economic development have become increasingly prominent. However, Marxist labor theory has not lost its vitality. In the current era, all social development and progress ultimately depend on labor, though the connotation of labor is becoming increasingly rich, and its forms are diversifying. We still need to uphold and promote Marxist labor theory, foster correct guidance, and enable society to more deeply recognize the glory of labor, respect and protect labor, and inspire all people to love and diligently engage in labor. This will more effectively stimulate the labor creativity of socialist laborers and maximize their role in creating material and spiritual wealth, accelerating the construction of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and advancing the development of socialist modernization.
Third, Labor Theory reminds us to use the worldview of Marxist scientific socialism to understand, analyze, and predict the patterns and trends of the opposing development of the two labor systems in the contemporary era. In the face of the complex situation of the new century, the flood of theoretical trends, and the clash of ideologies, the author addresses issues by adhering to the clarification of Marxist fundamental principles. This pursuit of science and truth is truly rare and valuable. Today, when bourgeois society still dominates in extremely broad domains, it is particularly necessary for us to use the Marxist worldview to understand, analyze, and predict the patterns and trends of the opposing development of the two labor systems. Although in the late 20th century, the upheaval in Eastern Europe and the dissolution of the Soviet Union brought the re-emergence of wage labor in some countries, this is merely a twist and whirlpool in history. The forward momentum of historical progress is unstoppable. In reality, the formation and establishment of any new system in history require multiple stages of repetition. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, especially since the reform and opening-up and the development of a socialist market economy, socialism with Chinese characteristics has been demonstrating a new path toward free and collective labor in a fresh form. The great practice of the vast laboring people of China in transforming the world and creating a better life is continuously unfolding. Although there are many twists and turns on this path, the direction and trend are unchangeable.
The author uses Marxist historical dialectics to deeply analyze the process of labor and capital growing and waning in globalization in the 21st century. Although the 21st century remains a period dominated by capital, in the process of globalization between capital and labor, this will be a transition from capital sovereignty and centrality to labor sovereignty and centrality. The victory of capital worldwide is also the universalization of the struggle between capital and labor. Capital will lose its retreat and regrouping backyard in this historical period, and it will complete its historical mission and decline. Under the conditions of a market economy, we utilize and develop capital, ultimately eliminating it and advancing free and collective labor to great strides on the new historical stage.
The 21st century is the century of labor theory and the century of laborers. From a historical perspective, this may still take a very long time. But historical laws are irresistible. Labor Theory conducts in-depth exploration on a series of important theoretical issues concerning Marxism, striving to dispel misunderstandings that deviate from the original intentions of Marx and Engels and incorrect or added interpretations of Marxism. This work also offers different perspectives from current textbooks on a series of issues, such as the distinction between ideology and science, the relationship between enslaved labor and morality, labor and philosophy, labor and worldview, truth, and practice.