Textological studies and a new understanding of Marx’s thought in contemporary China

Abstract

Textology has gradually become an important field and special research area in the overall pattern of Chinese Marxism since the beginning of the 21st century. Scholars have honed new explanations with new understandings concerning the relations between the origins of Marx’s thought and the Western cultural tradition, the continuity and essence of Marx’s thought through change, the complexity of Marx’s theory of capital and the arduousness of the criticisms against it, and the concrete contents of communism. Reflecting on the various attitudes in understanding Marx historically allows an exploration into the basis and method of Marx’s ‘textology’ that pursues in-depth case studies of texts. This helps to rectify long-standing misunderstandings and to realize the contemporary development and lasting value of Marx’s thought.

Keywords:

• Karl Marx
• Contemporary Chinese Marxism
• Textology
• ‘The Communist Manifesto’

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

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Notes on contributors

Jinfang Nie

Jinfang Nie is a professor of philosophy at Peking University Department of Philosophy, the Director of the Archive Centre for Marxism of Peking University, and an Associate President of China Society of History of Marxist Philosophy (CSHMP). He mainly researches Marx and Engel’s original texts, the vast related literature about them, and the history of their thoughts. Professor Nie has published 21 books and more than 230 articles, among which the 12-volume Re-reading Marx: Texts and their Thoughts (came out in 2018 to mark the 200 anniversary of Marx’s birth) has particularly widespread influence in the academia.