The First National Academic Annual Conference on the Discipline of Basic Tenets of Marxism Convened
The first National Academic Annual Conference on the Discipline of the Basic Principles of Marxism, organized by the Department of Marxist Principles of the Institute of Marxism Studies (IMS) [1], was held in Beijing on January 8, 2013. Cheng Enfu, Director of the IMS; Li Chongfu, Member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) [2]; Mei Rongzheng, Professor at Wuhan University; Zhang Leisheng, Party Committee Secretary of the School of Marxism at Renmin University of China; Hao Lixin, Dean of the School of Philosophy at Renmin University of China; and Sun Xiguo, Party Committee Secretary of the School of Marxism at Peking University, among other experts and scholars, attended the meeting and delivered speeches. Deng Chundong, Party Committee Secretary of the IMS, delivered the opening remarks. Hu Leming, Director of the Department of Principles, and Yu Bin, Deputy Director, presided over the meeting. More than 80 experts and scholars from over 20 universities and scientific research institutions across the country—including CASS, Peking University, Renmin University of China, Zhejiang University, Wuhan University, Lanzhou University, and Liaoning University—participated in the conference. The meeting revolved around themes such as "What are the Basic Principles of Marxism" and "The Issue of the Integrity of Marxism."
In his speech, Cheng Enfu pointed out that grasping the integrity of Marxism requires both a comprehensive and in-depth study of the issue of the integrity of Marxist theory itself, as well as an emphasis on analyzing the internal relations of Marxist theory. He argued that research into the integrity of Marxism should be carried out from ten perspectives or aspects: developmental research, categorical research, unity research, hierarchical research, "breaking and establishing" research [3], sub-disciplinary research, interactive research, national-contextual research, definitional research, and research on the "Three-izations" [4].
Li Chongfu suggested in his remarks that the "totality" of Marxism should be understood and grasped from eight aspects through a multi-perspective, all-round, and three-dimensional approach. These include: ideological origins and historical status; objects of study and objective evidence; social subjects and class foundations; logical connections and theoretical structure; spiritual essence and theoretical marrow; epistemological significance and social functions; ultimate goals and value pursuits; and the historicity and multi-stage nature of theoretical development.