Wu Hanfei: Ideology and Ways of Thinking are Major Issues
General Secretary Xi Jinping explicitly pointed out in the report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC: "We must be adept at viewing reality through the lens of history and perceiving the essence through phenomena. We must properly handle the relationships between the whole and the part, the present and the long term, the macro and the micro, principal and secondary contradictions, and the particular and the general. We must continuously improve our capacity for strategic thinking, historical thinking, dialectical thinking, systems thinking, innovative thinking, rule-of-law thinking, and bottom-line thinking, so as to provide scientific ideological methods for forward-looking thinking, overall planning, and the holistic advancement of all undertakings of the Party and the state." In his speech at the working conference for the thematic education campaign on studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping further pointed out that "we must comprehensively study and understand the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, master the basic viewpoints and scientific system of this thought in a comprehensive and systematic way, grasp its worldview and methodology, and persist in and well-apply the positions, viewpoints, and methods running through it." On the new journey of the New Era, we must keep in mind General Secretary Xi Jinping’s earnest teachings, deeply study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, grasp its worldview and methodology, persist in and apply its positions, viewpoints, and methods, and consciously arm our minds and guide our practice with the Party’s innovative theories.
The ideological methods and modes of thinking of Chinese Communists are scientific ideological methods and modes of thinking under the guidance of dialectical materialism and historical materialism. Engels once profoundly pointed out: "Marx's whole world outlook is not a doctrine, but a method. It provides not ready-made dogmas, but starting points for further investigation and the method for such investigation." The founders of Marxism attached great importance to the ways and methods of contemplating, analyzing, and researching problems, and they were adept at raising and analyzing issues from the perspectives of ideological methods and modes of thinking. Generally speaking, "ideological method" (思想方法) refers to the rules and procedures people follow when observing and researching objects and phenomena under the guidance of a certain worldview; "mode of thinking" (思维方式) refers to the way people ponder problems and conduct abstract thought—it is the way the subject recognizes objective reality and reflects and grasps objective reality within thought.
Judging from the translated and published Collected Works of Marx and Engels in our country, Marx and Engels successively used a series of concepts such as "forms of thought," "ways of thought," "ideological methods," "ways of contemplation," "methods of contemplation," "forms of thinking," "modes of thinking," and "methods of thinking." In the third volume of Capital, Marx pointed out: "The confusion of the capitalist mode of thought reaches its climax here, where the valorization of capital is not explained by the exploitation of labor-power, but, on the contrary, the productive nature of labor-power is explained by the fact that labor-power itself is such a mysterious thing as interest-bearing capital." Or again: in August 1881, after studying the mathematical manuscripts Marx had sent him, Engels wrote back: "Yesterday I finally found the courage to study your mathematical manuscripts without reference books, and I was glad to see that I had no need of them. I congratulate you on this. The matter is so clear that it is truly strange why mathematicians so stubbornly insist on making it mysterious. This, however, is caused by the one-sidedness of those gentlemen's ideological methods." In a letter to their mutual friend, Dr. Ludwig Kugelmann, in March 1868, Marx wrote: "There is something moving about Thünen. This Mecklenburg Junker (who, nonetheless, has a German mode of thinking) treats his estate of Tellow as the country and Schwerin in Mecklenburg as the town, and from these premises, with the help of observation, differential calculus, practical accounting, etc., he works out for himself Ricardo’s theory of rent. This is worthy of respect and at the same time ridiculous." Here, the "German mode of thinking" is identified. Similarly, Engels argued in Socialism: Utopian and Scientific: "The ancient Greek philosophers were all born, spontaneous dialecticians, and Aristotle, the most encyclopedic of them, had already analyzed the most essential forms of dialectic thought. But though the newer philosophy has had brilliant exponents of dialectics (e.g. Descartes and Spinoza), it has, especially through English influence, become more and more rigidly fixed in the metaphysical mode of thinking; the French of the 18th century were almost wholly dominated by this mode of thinking, at least in their special philosophical works." It is not difficult to see that in the theories of the Marxist classics, ideological methods and modes of thinking are both very important concepts.
From the perspective of our Party’s use of these concepts, "ideological method" is the method of understanding problems based on the worldview, values, positions, and viewpoints of Communists; it is fundamental in nature. Meanwhile, "mode of thinking" is the specific way of pondering problems; it is subordinate in nature. The older generation of proletarian revolutionaries of our Party primarily used the expression "ideological method." Standing on the side of the people and adhering to the viewpoints of dialectical materialism and historical materialism, they placed the resolution of ideological method issues in a highly prominent position while leading the work of revolution, construction, and reform. After the successful conclusion of the Zunyi Meeting [1], Comrade Chen Yun was ordered to go to Moscow. While completing various liaison tasks in the Soviet Union, he repeatedly pondered: how could one avoid making mistakes, or at least avoid making major mistakes? Reflecting on his own experience, he initially believed the main reason for making mistakes was a lack of experience. However, when he considered that educated and experienced people like Chen Duxiu and Li Lisan [2] also made mistakes, he felt this question had remained unresolved. After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, he returned to Yan'an to work according to the Central Committee's arrangements. During this period, he thrice sought advice from Comrade Mao Zedong on this important question that had long troubled him without a satisfactory answer. The first time, Comrade Mao Zedong said it was not a lack of experience but an incorrect ideological method, and that he should study more philosophy. The second time, Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out that making mistakes was not a matter of lacking experience but a problem of ideological method, using the example of Zhang Guotao [3], who had plenty of experience but still made mistakes. The third time they discussed the issue, Comrade Mao Zedong once again clarified that the reason for making mistakes was that something had gone wrong with the ideological method. The works and speeches of the older generation of proletarian revolutionaries, such as Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, and Chen Yun, all contain profound expositions on ideological methods.
From the level of methodology, the history of our Party is, in a certain sense, a history of continuously resolving and optimizing ideological methods and modes of thinking. The Chinese Communists, with Comrade Mao Zedong as their chief representative, integrated the basic tenets of Marxism-Leninism with China’s concrete realities and founded Mao Zedong Thought. As early as the Yan'an period, our Party summarized historical experience and deeply realized that ideological contradictions within the Party would occur frequently. It was necessary to enable the masses of Party members and cadres—especially senior cadres—to learn to use the Marxist position, viewpoint, and method to distinguish right from wrong, observe problems, and research and solve the practical problems of the Chinese revolution. To raise the theoretical and political level of senior Party cadres, the Central Committee decided in September 1941 to establish "Senior Study Groups" (高级学习组), encompassing members of the Central Committee, regional bureaus, sub-bureaus, and provincial committees, as well as main leaders of the Eighth Route Army and New Fourth Army, certain officials of senior organs, and certain teachers in senior schools. These were placed under the "management and guidance" of the Central Study Group, headed by Comrade Mao Zedong, which would "periodically designate materials, summarize experience, and answer questions." One of the primary directions of study and research was the ideological methodology of Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Stalin. In November of the same year, the "Organic Regulations for Senior Study Groups" were formulated, proposing that "the purpose of the theory group is to research political theory and ideological methods." The successful launch of the Yan'an Rectification Movement [4] and the adoption of the "Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of Our Party" by the Seventh Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee served to clear away past internal Party errors from their social roots and ideological methods, thereby unifying the Party's ideological understanding under Comrade Mao Zedong's correct ideological line. The Seventh National Congress further elevated "seeking truth from facts" to the Party's ideological line, which in fact established "seeking truth from facts" as the fundamental ideological method that the whole Party must always adhere to. Under the guidance of Mao Zedong Thought, the Party led the people of all ethnic groups across the country through long-term revolutionary struggles against imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucrat-capitalism, achieving victory in the New Democratic Revolution and establishing the People's Republic of China under the people's democratic dictatorship. After the founding of New China, the Party smoothly carried out socialist transformation, completed the transition from New Democracy to socialism, established the basic socialist system, and developed socialist economy, politics, and culture. Throughout this process, Comrade Mao Zedong repeatedly emphasized and profoundly expounded upon the issue of ideological methods. In July 1944, in a conversation with the British journalist Gunther Stein, Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out: "Without the communist ideological method, we cannot correctly guide the current democratic stage of our social revolution." In March 1957, in a talk with representatives from the press and publishing circles, Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out: "Both dogmatism and right-wing opportunism are characterized by one-sidedness; both use the metaphysical ideological method to observe and understand problems in a one-sided and isolated manner... One-sidedness in ideological methods is related to not having studied Marxism well. We must spend eight or ten years working hard to study Marxism and gradually discard metaphysical ideological methods." In November 1958, in a conversation with Wu Lengxi, then-director of the Xinhua News Agency and editor-in-chief of People's Daily, Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out: "Contradictions have a front side and a side view. In looking at a problem, one must see all aspects of the contradiction... This ideological method must first be possessed by the reporters of Xinhua branches and People's Daily, and the editorial department in Beijing." His works, such as Oppose Book Worship, Problems of Strategy in China's Revolutionary War, On Protracted War, On the Ten Major Relationships, On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People, and Where Do Correct Ideas Come From?, all summarize the laws and experiences of the Chinese revolution and construction in terms of ideological methods. On Practice and On Contradiction further expounded the Marxist ideological method for leading cadres from the perspective of philosophical epistemology.
After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee, the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Deng Xiaoping as their chief representative, summarized the positive and negative experiences since the founding of New China, emancipated the mind, sought truth from facts, shifted the focus of the whole Party's work to economic construction, implemented reform and opening up, and opened a new period for the development of the socialist cause. They gradually formed the line, principles, and policies for building socialism with Chinese characteristics, elucidated the basic issues of building, consolidating, and developing socialism in China, and founded Deng Xiaoping Theory. In the process of achieving the great historical turning point after the end of the "Cultural Revolution" and initiating reform and opening up, our Party achieved the "rectification of errors" (boluan fanzheng) [5] in its guiding ideology through the critique of the "Two Whatevers" [6]. In June 1981, the Sixth Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee adopted the "Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of Our Party since the Founding of the People's Republic of China," which provided a scientific summary and objective evaluation of major historical issues since the nation's founding. This further restored all work of the Party and the state to the ideological line of seeking truth from facts and pointed out the direction for the continued progress of China's socialist cause and the Party's work. In the process of successfully initiating socialism with Chinese characteristics, Comrade Deng Xiaoping attached great importance to ideological methods, profoundly noting: "Many of our cadres today do not understand philosophy; they greatly need to take a step forward in their ideological and working methods." "The current problem is that the existing organizational system and the ideological methods of a significant number of cadres are not conducive to selecting and using the talents urgently needed for the Four Modernizations." Comrade Chen Yun also consistently advocated for Party members and cadres to establish correct ideological methods, profoundly stating: "To lead our Party and country well, the most essential thing is to ensure that the ideological methods of leading cadres are set straight."
After the Fourth Plenary Session of the 13th Central Committee, the Chinese Communists, with Comrade Jiang Zemin as their chief representative, united and led the Party and the people of all ethnic groups in adhering to the Party's basic theory and basic line. They deepened the understanding of what socialism is and how to build it, and what kind of Party to build and how to build it, forming the "Three Represents" [7] Important Thought and successfully pushing socialism with Chinese characteristics into the 21st century. In this process, Comrade Jiang Zemin attached great importance to ideological methods and modes of thinking, profoundly pointing out: "As we engage in socialist modernization, our ideological methods and modes of thinking must also meet the requirements of modernization; they themselves should be modernized. And the modernization of ideological methods and modes of thinking means observing, thinking about, and solving various problems in accordance with the scientific spirit."
Following the 16th National Congress of the Party, the Chinese communists, with Comrade Hu Jintao as their chief representative, united and led the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups throughout the country in advancing practical, theoretical, and institutional innovation during the process of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects [8]. They profoundly recognized and addressed major questions such as what kind of development to achieve and how to achieve it under new circumstances, forming the Scientific Outlook on Development and successfully upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics under these new conditions. During this process, Comrade Hu Jintao attached great importance to ideological methods and ways of thinking. He profoundly pointed out: "We must study and apply Marxist ideological and working methods, persist in proceeding from reality in all things, develop both a revolutionary spirit of pioneering innovation and a work style of seeking truth from facts, cultivate the excellent habits of diligent reflection, courageous practice, and proficiency in innovation, and continuously open up new horizons in our work." He further emphasized the need to "courageously break through the constraints of subjectivist and metaphysical ways of thinking, and resolutely eradicate all ideological concepts that obstruct scientific development."
Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, the Chinese communists, with Comrade Xi Jinping as their chief representative, have persisted in combining the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with China's fine traditional culture [9]. They have scientifically answered major epochal questions such as what kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics should be upheld and developed in the New Era and how to uphold and develop it, leading to the creation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. As the core of the Party Central Committee and the core of the entire Party, General Secretary Xi Jinping is the principal founder of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized: "The Marxist stance, viewpoint, and method are our 'mainstay' [10] for doing our work well; they are the powerful ideological weapons that guide us in understanding and transforming the world." The "Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century," adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Party Central Committee, called upon the entire Party to use the Marxist stance, viewpoint, and method to observe the times, grasp the times, and lead the times, while continuously deepening our understanding of the laws governing the Communist Party's governance, the laws of socialist construction, and the laws of the development of human society. With a great sense of historical initiative, immense political courage, and a strong sense of responsibility, our Party has coordinated the two overall situations [11] of domestic and international affairs; implemented the Party's basic theory, basic line, and basic strategy; and managed the "Great Struggles, Great Projects, Great Causes, and Great Dreams" [12] in an integrated manner. This has propelled socialism with Chinese characteristics into the New Era, achieved the First Centenary Goal, and embarked on a new journey toward the Second Centenary Goal. Throughout this process, General Secretary Xi Jinping, based on the Marxist stance, viewpoint, and method, has placed the resolution of problems concerning ideological methods and ways of thinking in a prominent position, permeating them throughout the governance of the country. By insisting that everything proceeds from the interests of the people and from reality, and under the leadership of dialectics, he has synthesized and applied strategic thinking, historical thinking, dialectical thinking, systems thinking, innovative thinking, rule-of-law thinking, and bottom-line thinking to analyze problems, make decisions, and handle affairs. This has made original contributions to Marxist ideological methods and ways of thinking, opening a new realm for the scientific ideological methods and ways of thinking of Chinese communists. This provides the profound methodological basis for the historic achievements and historic transformations in the cause of the Party and the state since the beginning of the New Era.
The history and practice of the Party have repeatedly proven that whenever ideological methods are correct and ways of thinking are scientific, our cause develops smoothly; whenever problems arise in ideological methods and ways of thinking, our cause encounters setbacks. Scientific ideological methods and ways of thinking constitute a matter of immense importance related to the development of the cause of the Party and the state. On the new journey of the New Era, we must take the in-depth implementation of the thematic education campaigns [13] as an important opportunity to effectively transform the worldview, methodology, and the stance, viewpoint, and method inherent in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era into our own scientific ideological methods and ways of thinking. We must perform all tasks with a down-to-earth approach and continuously contribute to the great undertaking of building a strong country and achieving national rejuvenation.