Gu Hailiang: The logic and philosophy of adhering to a problem-oriented approach
"Adhering to a problem-oriented approach" is one of the "Six Must-Upholds" [1] of the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, as proposed at the 20th National Congress of the CPC. In philosophy and social science research, adhering to a problem-oriented approach is both a profound distillation of the Marxist worldview and methodology and a fundamental guideline for promoting disciplinary construction and academic development. In May 2016, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in his speech at the Symposium on Philosophy and Social Sciences: "Adhering to a problem-oriented approach is a distinctive feature of Marxism. Problems are the starting point of innovation and its source of power. Only by listening to the voice of the times, responding to its calls, and earnestly studying and solving major and pressing problems can we truly grasp the pulse of history, discover the laws of development, and promote theoretical innovation." Through ten years of tempering and ten years of forge-ahead progress, the journal Social Sciences in Chinese Higher Education has taken the problem-oriented approach as its basic guideline and fundamental method, developing its own characteristics and standards, and making significant contributions to the prosperity and development of philosophy and social sciences in universities.
Problems are the voice of the times; answering and guiding the solution to problems is the fundamental task of the development of philosophy and social sciences. On the new journey of the New Era, we must profoundly recognize and grasp the scientific connotation and practical requirements of adhering to a problem-oriented approach. We must focus on solving the practical problems of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization in the New Era. This increasingly requires us to constantly propose new concepts, new ideas, and new methods that truly solve problems, continuously promoting the innovative development of philosophy and social sciences in universities and opening up new frontiers in the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism.
"Adhering to a problem-oriented approach" constitutes an adherence to the theory of contradiction and is a new shaping of "correct ideas and effective methods" for the New Era. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Adhering to Marxism as a guide must be applied to the research of major theoretical and practical problems facing our country’s development and our Party’s governance, and to the proposal of correct ideas and effective methods for solving these problems." As a framework for "correct ideas and effective methods," the problem-oriented approach centrally embodies the New Era implications of the Marxist worldview and methodology; it has also become the fundamental requirement and basic direction for promoting the development of philosophy and social sciences in higher education.
Mao Zedong pointed out: "A problem is the contradiction in a thing. Where there is an unresolved contradiction, there is a problem." Every era has its own problems. "Problems" are often the summation of the development of various contradictions in that era; a "problem-oriented approach" is thus the line of thought for resolving and handling these contradictions. "Adhering to a problem-oriented approach" lies in establishing a problem-consciousness, grasping where the contradictions and fundamental issues of things lie, and scientifically perceiving, accurately grasping, and correctly solving these problems. Adhering to a problem-oriented approach is the thinking characteristic of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, as well as the source of its theoretical charm and political wisdom.
Contradictions are ubiquitous; they are the fundamental content of the connection between things and the internal driving force of their development. Human cognitive and practical activities are, fundamentally, the processes of constantly recognizing contradictions and revealing the essential nature and internal prescriptions of problems. This is the process of continuously understanding contradictions and problems and using problems to "force" [2] the development of things. Chinese culture has long contained the implication of contradiction in the saying "the succession of yin and yang is called the Dao" [3], as well as the concept of seeking innovation from contradictions and problems in the idea that "abundance is called a great undertaking, daily renewal is called supreme virtue, and ceaseless transformation is called Change" [4]. From a Marxist perspective, adhering to a problem-oriented approach and strengthening problem-consciousness means, in terms of worldview and methodology, acknowledging the universality and objectivity of contradictions. In philosophy and social science research, it means treating the recognition and resolution of contradictions and problems as the entire process of promoting social change, development, and breaking new ground in one's work.
Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, General Secretary Xi Jinping, in his exploration of socialist market economy issues, has insisted on starting from practical and realistic problems. Analyzing the combination of history and reality, he has used the problem-oriented approach to discover and categorize problems, and used "problem-forcing" as the main thread to analyze and solve them. During the discussion of comprehensively deepening reform at the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "The key to comprehensively deepening reform lies in having new plans and new measures. We must have a strong problem-consciousness, take major problems as our guide, focus on major and key problems for further research and reflection, find answers, and strive to promote the resolution of a series of prominent contradictions and problems facing our country's development." With a strong problem-consciousness, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed that "reform is produced by problem-forcing and is deepened through the continuous resolution of problems." Facing problems directly and "forcing" solutions has propelled the course of China’s comprehensive deepening of reform over the past decade, achieving a series of great successes. Persisting from practical and realistic problems and maintaining problem-consciousness and a problem-oriented approach in the exploration of historical and realistic combinations is the inevitable choice for the development and innovation of various disciplines in the philosophy and social sciences.
"Adhering to a problem-oriented approach" is the manifestation of the theory of development in the New Era and the concentrated expression of the core essence of the Marxist worldview and methodology. Entering the New Era—especially in the historical process of winning the decisive battle to finish building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and achieving the First Centenary Goal, while continuing to forge ahead toward the Second Centenary Goal of building a great modern socialist country in all respects—our society is in a new stage of development characterized by a critical period for development, a challenging period for reform, and a period where contradictions are becoming more prominent. In this stage, we face both contradictions and problems accumulated over a long period from the past, as well as those newly generated during the development process. Having achieved a series of great successes in the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics, we have reached the New Era of "becoming strong." This necessitates facing the new contradictions and problems in the changing times and realistic development with renewed vigor and a spirit of innovation.
Problems are the voice of the times. The reason why "problems" are called the "voice of the times" is that they are the inevitable forms taken by the internal contradictions of the new developmental stage—they are unavoidable and cannot be bypassed. If one turns a deaf ear to these problems, turns a blind eye, or even avoids and covers up the problems and their cruxes, watching as they turn for the worse, the accumulation of problems to a certain degree will lead to a qualitative leap, potentially resulting in "subversive errors." The logic is captured in the sayings: "A dike of a thousand rods may collapse because of an ant's nest; a chamber of a hundred feet may be scorched by smoke from a chimney crack" [5].
"Problems" are the "voice of the times" also because providing direct answers to and guiding the resolution of "problems" is the basic trajectory of practical development and the fundamental path of theoretical innovation. We must have a strong problem-consciousness, use major problems as our guide, and grasp key problems for in-depth research and reflection. The "problem-oriented approach" is always connected with "problem-consciousness" and "problem-forcing," constituting a process from discovering to solving problems. Engels believed that "the world is not to be comprehended as a complex of ready-made things, but as a complex of processes." The problem-oriented approach is such a "process": the accurate judgment of problems is its foothold, the active consciousness of problems is its power, and the tenacious "forcing" of problems is its internal trend.
After the 18th National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping raised issues such as accelerating the transformation of the economic development mode, adjusting the economic structure, resolving overcapacity, comprehensively deepening reform, comprehensively governing the country according to law, and strengthening the construction of ecological civilization. These all targeted deep-seated contradictions and problems that are broad-reaching and highly coupled. "If we do not rise to the challenge, turn the situation to our advantage, and cut paths through mountains and build bridges over water, these contradictions will continue to accumulate and may turn in an unfavorable direction, eventually becoming interfering factors or even destructive forces." Facing complex situations and arduous tasks, we must uphold the holistic view within the problem-oriented approach: "when the main thread is pulled, the mesh of the net opens; when the fundamental is grasped, the secondary follows" [6]. Being cognizant of and maintaining a holistic command over various interconnected contradictions and problems demonstrates the dialectical developmental relationship of adhering to a problem-oriented approach.
"Adhering to a problem-oriented approach" highlights the core of the theory of practice and is the concentrated expression of the essential characteristics of the Marxist worldview and methodology. The process of the development of things is, fundamentally, the process of constantly discovering and solving problems. Since the 18th National Congress, the cause of the Party and the state has achieved historical successes and undergone historical changes. A very important lesson from this is adhering to a problem-oriented approach and solving practical problems in the course of practice. Faced with the contradictions and problems in the "changes unseen in a century" [7], we must nurture new opportunities within crises and open new horizons amidst changes.
The problem-oriented approach is based on the discovery of problems, but this discovery does not happen naturally. The "problem-oriented approach" first lies in the discovery of problems, which means "investigating and categorizing problems that need focused solutions, being cognizant of them in advance, and starting the correction by solving specific problems." Only "specific problems" that have been investigated and understood can be "real problems" or "real research topics"; otherwise, they may be "pseudo-problems" or "pseudo-topics." The "orientation" of the "problem-oriented approach" must be guided by practice. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Practice has proven that only by adhering to a problem-oriented approach, starting from the details, focusing on practical effects, tightening one link after another, and striking one hammer blow after another, can we accumulate small victories into a great victory." The "details" and "practical effects" are where the principal aspect of a contradiction lies and where the key to solving a problem is found. The "problem-oriented approach" must adhere to the correct method and direction and possess "tenacity": "we must aim at the problems, correct for the problems, use precision guidance and precise force, until the problem is thoroughly solved." In this process, we must emphasize both the "two-point theory" [8] and the "point of emphasis theory" [9]. Without distinguishing between primary and secondary, or failing to differentiate and trying to "grab both the eyebrows and the beard" [10] at once, the goal of "orientation" cannot be achieved. General Secretary Xi Jinping’s practical application of the "problem-oriented approach" in governing the country vividly and profoundly reveals the theoretical atmosphere and intellectual wisdom of the "Theory of Contradiction" and "Theory of Practice."
To enhance problem-consciousness, we must focus on new problems encountered in practice, deep-seated problems in reform, development, and stability, the urgent problems that concern the people, major problems in the international landscape, and prominent problems facing Party building. We must constantly propose new concepts, new ideas, and new methods that truly solve problems. Problems are the starting point of innovation and its source of power. Today, the complexity of the problems we face and the difficulty of solving them have increased significantly, placing entirely new requirements on theoretical innovation.
Every era has its own problems. So long as we scientifically recognize, accurately grasp, and correctly solve these problems, we can continuously push our society forward and elevate the disciplinary, academic, and discourse systems of Chinese philosophy and social sciences. Adhering to a problem-oriented approach is a salient feature of the Party’s governance since the 18th National Congress, a distinctive style of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and the academic and philosophical rationale for prospering and developing philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics.
As the Marxist worldview and methodology for the New Era, "adhering to a problem-oriented approach" has sublimated the theoretical meaning and lofty realm of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The process by which humanity understands and transforms the world is the process of discovering and solving problems. This adherence is a salient feature of the Marxist worldview and methodology. Throughout a century of struggle and progress, Chinese Communists have conducted revolution, construction, and reform always to solve the practical problems of China. The Party's theory has also innovated and developed by continuously answering the questions of the times. Throughout history, we can similarly see that "in human history, no nation or country can achieve strength and rejuvenation by relying on external forces or following in the footsteps of others. The result of doing so is either inevitable failure or becoming a mere dependent of others."
The worldview and methodology of adhering to a problem-oriented approach highlight the farsightedness of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. By integrating the theories of contradiction, practice, and development, it endows the Marxist worldview and methodology with new connotations of the times. It highlights the thought’s ability to see the large in the small [11], solving both realistic and strategic problems. By unfolding the internal connections between the problem-oriented approach, problem-consciousness, and "problem-forcing" as a "process," it allows historical and theoretical consciousness to be manifested in the practice of formulating solutions suited to problems. Ultimately, it achieves the goal of listening to the voice of the times, responding to its calls, earnestly studying and solving major and pressing problems, truly grasping the pulse of history, and promoting theoretical innovation.
Adhering to the worldview and methodology of remaining problem-oriented [12], and taking the resolution of contradictions and the surmounting of difficult problems as the breakthrough point for opening up new prospects, reveals a distinct problem-oriented intention and philosophy while carrying forward a powerful spirit of temporal responsibility and struggle. The series of major issues regarding the development of the Party and state undertakings in the New Era can be summarized as: what kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics should we uphold and develop in the New Era, and how should we uphold and develop it? What kind of great modern socialist power should we build, and how should we build it? What kind of long-term governing Marxist party should we build, and how should we build it? It is precisely based on the accurate grasp and scientific response to these major questions of the times that Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era was established and has continued to enrich and develop. Building a modern socialist country in all respects is a great and arduous undertaking; the future is bright, but the journey is long and the task is heavy. On the new journey of the New Era, we must persist in liberating the mind, seeking truth from facts, advancing with the times, and being realistic and pragmatic. We must proceed from reality in all things, focus on solving the practical problems of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization in the New Era, and continuously answer the questions of China, the world, the people, and the times. By providing correct answers that conform to China's reality and the requirements of the times, we can derive scientific understandings that align with objective laws and form theoretical achievements that advance with the times to better guide Chinese practice.
Adhering to a problem-oriented worldview and methodology is an inevitable requirement for building a modern socialist power in all respects in the New Era. "The times are the paper-setter, we are the examinees, and the people are the markers." [13] To answer every question on the "test paper" well and to obtain an affirmative judgment from the "markers," the "examinees" must first remain problem-oriented and follow the logic and philosophy of the views on contradiction, practice, and development. This is the confidence and profound foundation that the "examinees" must uphold. We have already embarked on a new journey toward the Second Centenary Goal [14]. On this journey, we must listen to the voice of the times, respond to its call, and earnestly study and solve major and urgent problems. We must truly grasp historical initiative and historical consciousness, enhance theoretical initiative and theoretical confidence, be adept at discovering problems, be courageous in facing them, and be bold in solving them. We must move toward the problems and face them head-on, constantly tempering new thoughts, strategies, and concepts of state governance to create new achievements for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and realize new glories for the Sinicization and modernization of Marxism.