China News Agency, Beijing, December 10th: Why is Chinese-style modernization inseparable from the harmonious coexistence of man and nature?
——Interview with Han Qiuhong, Distinguished Professor of Fangwu, Northeast Normal University
China News Agency reporter Wen Longjie
Editor's note:
Modernization is a major transformation of global society spanning hundreds of years and involving five continents. It runs through various fields such as economy, technology, politics, and culture, and has brought great changes to the world.
China is undoubtedly a part of this historical process.
After a century of struggle, China's modernization has come into being.
The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China officially proposed "Chinese-style modernization". Why is it an innovation of the modernization model?
What are its essential requirements?
Why can break the "end of history conclusion"?
The special column of "East and West Questions" takes this opportunity to launch the special project "Understanding Chinese-style modernization" (2), which will focus on the interpretation of "the world significance of Chinese-style modernization".
Chinese-style modernization is the socialist modernization led by the Communist Party of China, which not only has the common characteristics of the modernization of all countries, but also has Chinese characteristics based on its own national conditions.
The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China clearly pointed out that promoting the harmonious coexistence between man and nature is one of the essential requirements of Chinese-style modernization.
How to deeply understand and grasp the proposition of "harmonious coexistence between human beings and nature"?
China News Agency "Dongxiwen" interviewed Han Qiuhong, a second-level professor of Northeast Normal University, a distinguished professor of Fangwu, and a doctoral supervisor.
The interview transcript is summarized as follows:
China News Agency reporter: In the theoretical system of Marxism, what is the relationship between man and nature? How do classic writers deal with the relationship between man and nature?
Han Qiuhong:
Marxist classic writers comprehensively innovated the thinking paradigm of traditional speculative philosophy with the new worldview methodology of dialectical materialism and historical materialism, and formed an epistemological innovation based on the unity of subject and object based on practice. This philosophical methodology revolution concentrated and prominently reflected Based on Marxism's scientific understanding of the dialectical relationship between man and nature.
"Nature is the inorganic body of man", "Without nature, without a sensuous external world, the worker can create nothing", the first confirmed facts of social history are "the individual's physical organization and the resulting individual's response to other nature These discussions emphasize that human beings are not only a part of nature, but also rely on the material conditions provided by nature for production and life.
It is in the labor of material transformation and metabolism between man and nature, and in the practice of understanding and transforming nature, that human beings can realize their own essence, manifest their own subjectivity, and represent their free self as an "active natural existence".
It can be said that the scientific understanding of classic Marxist writers has completely surpassed the abstract view of nature of idealism and the mechanical view of nature of mechanical materialism. They both oppose the mystification of nature and criticize the objectification of nature.
Blindly using a so-called nature-centred value to deny the meaning of human existence and creating a modernization of "no one" is obviously impossible and does not conform to the laws of nature and history; The unrestrained pursuit of nature by the instrumental rationality of "nature" is the dominant concept of capitalist modernization, which is obviously contrary to the nature of human beings and the sustainable needs of social and historical development.
In this regard, Marx and Engels clearly pointed out, "We should not be too intoxicated with our human victory over nature. For every such victory, nature will retaliate against us."
In Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, birds such as egrets and herons rest on the bird watching island of Haizhu Lake.
Photo by Chen Chuhong
China News Agency reporter: Why is the harmonious coexistence of man and nature the proper meaning of Chinese-style modernization?
Han Qiuhong:
The modernization of harmonious coexistence between man and nature fully demonstrates the Chinese characteristics and Chinese wisdom of Chinese-style modernization.
There are three main aspects:
The first is about the relationship between economic development and ecological civilization construction.
The scientific thesis that "lucid waters and green mountains are golden mountains and silver mountains" has realized the concept innovation of the dialectical unity of economic benefits and ecological benefits, and fundamentally broke the dualistic thinking mode inherent in the Western model, which not only negates the concept of "pollution first, but governance later". The modernization model that overdraws nature, and rejects the value concept of "only protection, no development" ecocentrism that overcorrects the tense relationship between man and nature, and clarifies the dialectics between economic development and ecological civilization with the methodological principles of dialectical materialism and historical materialism The unified relationship emphasizes the inevitability, necessity and possibility of both.
The second is about the fundamental purpose of Chinese-style modernization.
The harmonious coexistence of man and nature conforms to and fully demonstrates the original mission of the Communist Party of China to "seek happiness for the people and rejuvenation for the nation" and the development thought and concept of "people-centered".
The fundamental purpose of Chinese-style modernization is to unswervingly follow the path of civilized development featuring productive development, affluent life, and a sound ecology, so as to realize the sustainable development of the Chinese nation.
In the struggle to complete poverty alleviation and build a well-off society in an all-round way, the concept of green development emphasizing environmental protection and ecological governance runs through it. The green transformation on the road of ecological civilization development also actually generates income and increases economic development.
Sichuan Hongya Yuping Mountain Forest Health Care Base Highway.
Photo by Liu Zhongjun
The third is the cosmopolitan and human nature of Chinese-style modernization.
Harmonious coexistence between man and nature implies the unity of "community of life between man and nature", "community of shared future for mankind" and "community of life on earth".
Human beings communicate and interact with nature in historical production and life to achieve social progress and natural development.
This historic activity not only affects and changes nature, but also obtains gifts or influences from nature.
The shared destiny of man and nature requires human beings to integrate themselves into the development of nature, choose a green and ecological production and lifestyle, and reflect the shared destiny in the era of globalization in human society.
It can be said that strengthening biodiversity protection and jointly building a clean and beautiful world with the concept of harmonious coexistence between man and nature is the only way for all mankind to survive from the perspective of being responsible for future generations and the long-term goal of sustainable development of human civilization. The road to ecological civilization of the "earth home".
The merits in the present age and the benefits in the future.
Qinghai Lake Scenic Area, Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province.
Photo by Ma Mingyan
China News Service reporter: What are the characteristics of Chinese-style modernization in terms of harmonious coexistence between man and nature, and what kind of ideological resources have been drawn from the excellent traditional Chinese culture? How has this exploration enriched Marxist theory?
Han Qiuhong:
As an important crystallization of Chinese excellent traditional culture, the idea of harmonious coexistence between man and nature not only inherits the fine genes of Chinese culture, but also demonstrates new Chinese wisdom in the creative transformation and innovative development of the new era. It is an important theoretical representation of the combination of the basic principles of doctrine with China's specific reality and with the excellent traditional Chinese culture.
The "Book of Changes" has a cloud: "Looking at astronomy to observe time changes; observing humanities to transform into the world";
"Laozi" has a saying that "people follow the earth, the earth follows the sky, the sky follows the Tao, and the Tao follows nature".
"Xunzi" has an article "When the vegetation is flourishing, the ax will not enter the mountain forest, and it will not die, and it will not grow."
These ancient wisdoms reflect that China has maintained a dialectical meditation on the harmonious symbiotic relationship between man and nature since ancient times. Always insist on putting the harmonious coexistence of man and nature in the first place in social development, rather than taking nature to the extreme.
This excellent traditional Chinese culture can be continued and innovated in contemporary times. Xi Jinping's ecological civilization thought is based on the background of global ecological construction, closely combined with the practice of China in the new era, so that the concept of "harmonious coexistence between man and nature" can be creatively realized in the new era. Transformation and innovative development show more vigorous growth, fully demonstrate the long-standing and strong vitality of Chinese excellent traditional culture, and realize the rich development of Marxist theory.
Shenzhen Futian Mangrove National Nature Reserve.
Chen Wenshe
China News Agency reporter: What is the significance of Chinese-style modernization in which man and nature coexist harmoniously in exploring the path of civilization development?
Han Qiuhong:
The Chinese-style modernization of "harmonious coexistence between man and nature" is a modernization oriented towards the progress of human civilization, and the concept of ecological civilization it carries is an important dimension of the future prospects of human civilization.
Different from the zero-sum game model of hegemony, power politics, unilateralism, and protectionism that capitalist modernization has brought to the international community, it has resulted in the polarization of the rich and the poor, fierce conflicts, and frequent turmoil that pervade the international community. As a result, the goal of Chinese-style modernization promotes the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind, creates a new form of human civilization, and highlights Chinese characteristics and Chinese wisdom in terms of the attributes of socialism, the spirit of internationalism, the development of human civilization, and the ultimate value of the cause of human liberation. It provides a new modern model for maintaining and promoting world peace and development, and especially provides a new choice for those countries and nations in the world who want to speed up development and maintain their own positioning.
A bullet train crosses the Xingfuyuan Bridge in Xingping Town, Yangshuo County, Guangxi.
Photo by Chen Guanyan
People can see that based on the essence of harmonious coexistence between man and nature, China has always fulfilled its responsibilities as a major country and international responsibility, insisted on integrated protection and systematic governance of mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grass and sand, continuously improved the system of ecological civilization, and actively participated in global governance. System reform and construction, improve the "Belt and Road" Green Development International Alliance, actively promote a win-win, fair and reasonable global climate governance system, comprehensively carry out international cooperation in the fight against the new crown pneumonia epidemic, advocate green and low-carbon production and lifestyle, and specifically set up " The goal and planning of ecological civilization construction such as "carbon peak" and "carbon neutrality", etc. China's solid practice of ecological civilization construction will benefit the world from "green development". The practical achievements are obvious to all and widely recognized by the international community, highlighting the theoretical combined methodological principles.
It is these major achievements that make Chinese-style modernization recognized by other countries and regions in the world, providing them with Chinese experience and Chinese wisdom in modernization development.
It can be seen that the Chinese-style modernization of harmonious coexistence between man and nature abandons the narrow concept of nationalism and negates the concept of Western centralism. With an international perspective and a human position, it actually breeds the hope and dawn of ecological civilization, and then shapes the A new form of human civilization.
(Finish)
Respondent profile:
Han Qiuhong, second-level professor of Northeast Normal University, Fangwu Distinguished Professor, doctoral supervisor.
National "Ten Thousand Talents Program" teaching teacher.
National Social Science Fund Major Bidding Project "Sinicization of Western Philosophy Since the Founding of the People's Republic of China and Its Experience and Lessons" (12&ZD121) Host, Ministry of Education's Major Social Science Research Project "Research on the New Progress of the Critical Theory of Contemporary Western Capitalism" (20JZD008) Chief expert and monograph "On the History of Sinicization of Western Philosophy" was selected into the National Philosophy and Social Science Achievement Library; enjoys special government allowances from the State Council; edits "Western Marxist Modernity Theory Research Series" (People's Publishing House 8/12), author of "Western Philosophy More than ten academic monographs and textbooks, including Critique of Marxist Modernity Theory, Myth and Truth of Modernity, Humanistic Spirit of Western Philosophy, Introduction to Modern Western Philosophy, etc.
Many of the academic papers published in high-level journals such as "Marxism Studies" were reprinted in full by "Xinhua Digest" and other publications.