Ecological Civilization and Socialism
Exploring the issue of ecological civilization from the perspective of scientific socialism [1] is the primary feature and fundamental viewpoint of this book. Based on this, the book first demonstrates that the theoretical foundation of socialist ecological civilization resides in the view of nature and ecological thought of Marx and Engels, as well as their analysis of the anti-ecological character of the capitalist mode of production. Using this as a guide, the book proceeds to discuss the theory and practice of China's socialist ecological civilization.
In Chapter One, the discussion unfolds based on the classical texts of Marx and Engels. It proposes that Marx and Engels's view of nature should be understood at the high level of the principles of dialectical materialism and historical materialism. It asserts that their view of nature is a socially-relevant view of nature—it is not a simple description of an abstract relationship between humanity and nature or society and nature, but rather a holistic analysis of the concrete, historical, and class-based relationships between humanity and nature, and society and nature. From the perspective of Marx and Engels's view of nature, the capitalist system is essentially anti-ecological; it is impossible to realize substantive, global ecological civilization construction under the capitalist system. Socialism (communism) lays the foundation for achieving the "double reconciliation" [2] of humanity with humanity and humanity with nature.
Ecological Marxism, as the theoretical achievement of the encounter between contemporary ecological and environmental issues and Marxism, possesses significant theoretical importance; it is also regarded as a new stage in the development of Western Marxism. In Chapter Two, the book first provides a theoretical definition of ecological Marxism and summarizes the theoretical viewpoints used by its main figures to critique capitalism. Subsequently, it analyzes the limitations of ecological Marxism, taking Ted Benton as an example. Drawing on the useful achievements of ecological Marxism, we also critique the destruction of the global ecology by capitalist consumerism and ecological colonialism from the perspective of classical Marxism.
On this basic theoretical foundation and under its guidance, the book emphasizes that China's ecological civilization construction must persist in its socialist nature; this is the central idea running through the entire work.
About the Author: Zhang Jian is an Associate Research Fellow at the Department of Western Marxism, Institute of Marxism Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). Research interests: Ecological Marxism and Post-Marxism.
Introduction Section 1: The Epochal Background of Ecological Civilization Construction: The World and China Section 2: The Encounter of Ecological Problems and Marxism: The Destiny of Capitalism Section 3: Researching Ecological Civilization from the Perspective of Scientific Socialism Section 4: The Basic Content and Framework of This Book
Chapter 1: Marx and Engels’s View of Nature and Ecological Thought Section 1: Ecological Thought in Marx and Engels’s View of Nature Section 2: Marx and Engels’s Critique of the Anti-Ecological Character of the Capitalist Mode of Production
Chapter 2: Ecological Marxism: Definition, Critique, and Reference Section 1: The Definition of Ecological Marxism Section 2: Main Viewpoints of Ecological Marxism’s Critique of Capitalism Section 3: Limitations of Ecological Marxism—The Case of Ted Benton Section 4: Ecological Critique of the Consumer Society Section 5: Critique of Ecological Colonialism
Chapter 3: Thought Sources of Chinese Ecological Consciousness and the Historical Progress of Its Practical Forms Section 1: Ecological Consciousness and its Actual Manifestations in Traditional Chinese Culture Section 2: The Awakening of Ecological Consciousness and Practical Development from the Founding of the PRC to the Present
Chapter 4: The Development of Scientific Socialism by the Concept of Chinese Socialist Ecological Civilization
Chapter 5: Primary Content of the Construction of Chinese Socialist Ecological Civilization
Chapter 6: Practical Correlations between Chinese Socialist Ecological Civilization Construction and the Construction of Material, Political, and Spiritual Civilizations [3]
Conclusion: The Responsibility of China's Socialist Ecological Civilization Construction in Resolving Global Ecological Problems
Bibliography
Postscript