矛盾论 (1937)

《矛盾论》是毛泽东最重要的哲学作品之一，与《实践论》合称“两论”。《矛盾论》创作于1937年，从马克思主义哲学辩证法上论证运动与生命都是矛盾发展的结果。

概述

“事物矛盾的法则，即对立统一的法则，是自然和社会的根本法则，因而也是思维的根本法则。”矛盾的普遍性即矛盾存在于一切事物的自始至终的发展过程中，特殊性即矛盾的特性。为了解决问题，在各种矛盾中，应当抓住主要矛盾，在矛盾的两个方面中，应当抓住主要方面。矛盾的同一性是有条件的、相对的，斗争性是无条件的、绝对的。矛盾又可分为对抗性的和非对抗的。

《矛盾论》还认为生产关系、理论、上层建筑在一定条件下可能起决定作用。

评价

毛泽东自己评价：对《实践论》“是比较满意的，《矛盾论》就并不很满意”。这个评价，他后来始终坚持。1965年，在回答记者斯诺时，他说道：“其实，《矛盾论》不如《实践论》那篇文章好。《实践论》是讲认识过程，说明人的认识是从什么地方来的，又向什么地方去。”

傅雷在写给儿子的家书中写道：“‘毛选’中的《实践论》及《矛盾论》，可多看看，这是一切理论的根底……可以帮助你对马列主义及辩证法有深切了解……我本来富于科学精神，看这一类书觉得很容易体会，也很有兴趣……”

On Contradiction (simplified Chinese: 矛盾论; traditional Chinese: 矛盾論; pinyin: Máodùn Lùn; lit. 'To Discuss Contradiction') is a 1937 essay by the Chinese Communist revolutionary Mao Zedong. Along with On Practice, it forms the philosophical underpinnings of the political ideology that would later become Maoism. It was written in August 1937, as an interpretation of the philosophy of dialectical materialism, while Mao was at his guerrilla base in Yan'an. Mao suggests that all movement and life is a result of contradiction. Mao separates his paper into different sections: the two world outlooks, the universality of contradiction, the particularity of contradiction, the principal contradiction and principal aspect of contradiction, the identity and struggle of aspects of contradiction, the place of antagonism in contradiction, and finally the conclusion. Mao further develops the theme laid out in On Contradiction in his 1957 speech On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People.

Mao describes existence as being made up of constant transformation and contradiction. Nothing is constant as in metaphysics and can only exist based on opposing contradictions. He uses the concept of contradiction to explain different Chinese historical time periods and social events. Mao's form of talking about contradiction creates a modified concept that brought forth the ideal of Chinese Marxism. This text continues to influence and educate Chinese Marxists.

Historical background

Mao initially held views similar to a reformist or nationalist. He later said that he became a Marxist in 1919 when he took a second trip to Peking, although he had not declared his new belief at that time. In 1920, he met Chen Duxiu in Shanghai and discussed the Marxist philosophy. Mao finally officially moved toward his new ideology when the Movement of Self-Government of Hunan failed. He found a more reasonable approach to fixing society's problems in Marxism. He once said, "Class struggle, some classes triumph, others are eliminated." He understood the need for Marxist ideas and struggles in order to more effectively take on the developing world.

Like On Practice, On Contradiction was written by Mao during the Yan'an Period. On Contradiction was written while the Communists and the Nationalists were in the Second United Front against the invading Japanese forces.

Some of the points made in "On Contradiction" were drawn and expanded from lectures Mao presented in 1937 at the Counter-Japanese University in Yan'an. These lectures drew from the work of Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, and Vladimir Lenin. Mao elaborated on their principles based on the practice of the Chinese Communist Party at the time. Mao's research was concentrated on pieces from Chinese Marxist philosophers. The most influential philosopher that Mao studied was Ai Siqi. Mao not only read Ai's works but also knew him personally. Mao studied Marxism diligently in the year before he wrote his "Lecture Notes on Dialectical Materialism." He reviewed and annotated the Soviet Union's New Philosophy in order to actively understand the dialectical materialism concept.

In addition to elaborating on his ideological and philosophic views, Mao wrote On Contradiction to help legitimize his political thinking within a Marxist framework and thus further solidify his leadership.