The Creative Construction of an Independent Knowledge System through Systemic Integration

Original title: The *Decision*’s Systemic Integration of Chinese-Path Modernization Elevates the New Realm of a “Systematic Economic Theory” with Chinese Characteristics — The Creative Construction of an Independent Knowledge System through Systemic Integration

原标题：《决定》对中国式现代化的系统集成，升华了中国特色“系统化的经济学说”新境界——系统集成对自主知识体系的创造性构建

Core viewpoint

核心观点

The *Decision* adopted at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC, in its exposition on further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese-path modernization, puts forward the method and principle of “adhering to a systemic approach.” From “systemic integration” to “systemic approach” becomes the methodological key to a profound understanding of the spiritual essence of the *Decision*, and also the key to a profound understanding of the theoretical innovation that the *Decision* brings to Chinese-path modernization through systemic integration, elevating the theoretical and practical significance of Chinese-path modernization in the critical period of comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. At the same time, the systemic integration of Chinese-path modernization also exerts an important influence on the construction of China’s independent knowledge system at the academic and theoretical levels, elevating the new realm of a “systematic economic theory” with Chinese characteristics.

党的二十届三中全会通过的《决定》在对进一步全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化的论述中，提出了“坚持系统观念”的方法和原则。从“系统集成”到“系统观念”，成为深刻理解《决定》精神实质的方法论挈要，也成为深刻理解《决定》对中国式现代化在系统集成上理论创新的关键，升华了中国式现代化在全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业关键时期的理论和实践意义。同时，中国式现代化的系统集成也在学术和学理上对中国自主知识体系构建产生重要影响，升华了中国特色“系统化的经济学说”新境界。

In his “Explanation on the *Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese-Path Modernization*,” General Secretary Xi Jinping mentions that in the drafting of the *Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese-Path Modernization* (hereinafter referred to as the *Decision*), the principle of “strengthening systemic integration” was a key point to grasp, and emphasizes that this “systemic integration” takes “strengthening the overall planning and systemic layout of reform, so that reforms in all aspects complement each other and work together efficiently” as its basic connotation and main characteristic. The *Decision* adopted at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC, in its exposition on further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese-path modernization, puts forward the method and principle of “adhering to a systemic approach.” From “systemic integration” to “systemic approach” becomes the methodological key to a profound understanding of the spiritual essence of the *Decision*, and also the key to a profound understanding of the theoretical innovation that the *Decision* brings to Chinese-path modernization through systemic integration, elevating the theoretical and practical significance of Chinese-path modernization in the critical period of comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. At the same time, the systemic integration of Chinese-path modernization also exerts an important influence on the construction of China’s independent knowledge system at the academic and theoretical levels, elevating the new realm of a “systematic economic theory” with Chinese characteristics.

习近平总书记在《关于〈中共中央关于进一步全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化的决定〉的说明》中，提到《中共中央关于进一步全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化的决定》（以下简称《决定》）起草中重点把握“强化系统集成”的原则，并强调这一“系统集成”是以“加强对改革整体谋划、系统布局，使各方面改革相互配合、协同高效”为基本内涵和主要特征的。党的二十届三中全会通过的《决定》在对进一步全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化的论述中，提出了“坚持系统观念”的方法和原则。从“系统集成”到“系统观念”，成为深刻理解《决定》精神实质的方法论挈要，也成为深刻理解《决定》对中国式现代化在系统集成上理论创新的关键，升华了中国式现代化在全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业关键时期的理论和实践意义。同时，中国式现代化的系统集成也在学术和学理上对中国自主知识体系构建产生重要影响，升华了中国特色“系统化的经济学说”新境界。

First, the process of systemic integration of Chinese-path modernization and its exploration of an independent knowledge system for Chinese economics is based on China’s national conditions and takes the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era as its realistic background. From the strategic anchoring that puts forward the characteristics and connotations of Chinese-path modernization, to the establishment at the 20th National Congress of the CPC of the essential requirements, strategic goals, and major principles of Chinese-path modernization, to the exploration at the “theoretical system” level of the historical logic, basic concepts, and main relationships of Chinese-path modernization, and then to the overall planning in the *Decision* in terms of strategic deployment and strategic layout — all of this is closely related to the development and changes in national conditions at the intersection of the “Two Centenary Goals” [1]1 The Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC was held in October 2020 and adopted proposals for the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) and long-range objectives through 2035. in the New Era, and is also closely linked to the epochal characteristics of the transition of socialism with Chinese characteristics from completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects to comprehensively building a great modern socialist country. In May 2016, in his speech at a symposium on philosophy and social sciences, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that “the scope of research in philosophy and social sciences is very broad, and different disciplines have their own knowledge systems and research methods,” clarifying the relationship between the knowledge system and research methods of disciplines in philosophy and social sciences. The research methods referred to here are mainly the method of integrating theory with practice, and also the method of “problem-orientation” summarized by General Secretary Xi Jinping in his report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC, that

第一，中国式现代化系统集成及其对中国经济学自主知识体系的探索过程，是以中国国情为基础，以新时代中国特色社会主义的发展为现实背景的。从战略锚定上提出中国式现代化的特征和内涵，到党的二十大对中国式现代化本质要求、战略目标和重大原则的确立，到“理论体系”上对中国式现代化历史逻辑、基本观念和主要关系的探索，再到《决定》在战略部署和方略布局上的统筹规划，都同新时代“两个一百年”交汇时刻的国情发展和变化密切相关，也都同中国特色社会主义由全面建成小康社会向全面建成社会主义现代化强国进程转变的时代特征紧密相连。2016年5月，习近平总书记在哲学社会科学工作座谈会上的讲话中提出“哲学社会科学研究范畴很广，不同学科有自己的知识体系和研究方法”，明确了哲学社会科学学科的知识体系和研究方法的关系。这里讲的研究方法主要是理论联系实际的方法，同时也是习近平总书记在党的二十大报告中概括的“问题导向”的方法，即凸显“问题是时代的声音，回答并指导解决问题是理论的根本任务”的方法。2022年4月，习近平总书记在中国人民大学考察时强调，“加快构建中国特色哲学社会科学，归根结底是建构中国自主的知识体系。要以中国为观照、以时代为观照，立足中国实际，解决中国问题，不断推动中华优秀传统文化创造性转化、创新性发展，不断推进知识创新、理论创新、方法创新，使中国特色哲学社会科学真正屹立于世界学术之林。”建构中国自主知识体系，“归根到底”就是以“以中国为观照、以时代为观照，立足中国实际，解决中国问题”为基础和前提的，这是中国哲学社会科学自主知识体系建构的最基本也是最根本的规定性。

Second, the systematic integration of Chinese-path modernization is based on and marked by the construction of core categories of the independent knowledge system. The systematic integration of Chinese-path modernization is characterized by a process of constructing core categories in the sense of a "revolution in terminology." The "revolution in terminology" was proposed by Engels in his "Preface" to the English translation of the first volume of Marx's *Capital*. In evaluating Marx's theoretical innovations in political economy, Engels noted: "Every new insight into a science implies a revolution in the terminology of that science." Core categories, central concepts, and fundamental principles all belong to the "revolution in terminology" within a knowledge system and are also markers of the autonomy of that knowledge system. As an independent knowledge system for Chinese economics, the systematic integration of Chinese-path modernization is marked by this "revolution in terminology": on the one hand, it starts from a series of unique categories and concepts of Chinese-path modernization, forming markers of the "revolution in terminology" such as the new development philosophy, the new stage of development, the new development pattern, high-quality development, the modern economic system, new quality productive forces, and the basic system and institutions of socialism with Chinese characteristics; on the other hand, it is marked by the "revolution in terminology" of the fundamental features, basic connotations, essential requirements, overall goals, major principles, historical logic, theoretical system, strategic deployments, strategic layouts, and methodology of Chinese-path modernization itself. In his speech at the Symposium on Philosophy and Social Sciences, General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed: "We must be adept at refining iconic concepts and creating new concepts, new categories, and new expressions that are easily understood and accepted by the international community, guiding international academia to conduct research and discussion." Therefore, we must adhere to problem awareness and a problem orientation, "refining new theories with academic rationality and summarizing new practices with regularity. This is the focus and emphasis of constructing philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics."

第二，中国式现代化系统集成是以自主知识体系的核心范畴建构为根据、为标识的。中国式现代化系统集成突出的是以“术语的革命”意义上核心范畴的建构为过程特征的。“术语的革命”是恩格斯在为马克思《资本论》第一卷英文译本所撰写的“序言”中提出的。恩格斯在对马克思政治经济学理论创新贡献的评价时提到：“一门科学提出的每一种新见解都包含这门科学的术语的革命。”核心范畴、中心概念和基本原理都属于知识体系中的“术语的革命”，也都是知识体系自主性的标识。中国式现代化系统集成作为中国经济学自主知识体系，就是以“术语的革命”为标识的：一方面，从中国式现代化一系列独特的范畴、概念切入，形成了新发展理念、新发展阶段、新发展格局、高质量发展、现代化经济体系、新质生产力及中国特色社会主义基本制度和体制上的“术语的革命”的标识；另一方面，以中国式现代化本身的根本特征、基本内涵、本质要求、总体目标、重大原则、历史逻辑、理论体系、战略部署、方略布局及方法论等的“术语的革命”为标识。在哲学社会科学工作座谈会的讲话中，习近平总书记提出：“要善于提炼标识性概念，打造易于为国际社会所理解和接受的新概念、新范畴、新表述，引导国际学术界展开研究和讨论。”因此，要坚持问题意识、问题导向，“提炼出有学理性的新理论，概括出有规律性的新实践。这是构建中国特色哲学社会科学的着力点、着重点”。

Third, the systematic integration of Chinese-path modernization is an evolutionary process of the continuation of the internal logic of the independent knowledge system of Chinese economics. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, "China's philosophy and social sciences should center on what we are doing, excavate new materials, discover new problems, put forward new viewpoints, and construct new theories from the practice of China's reform and development." Only in this process can we understand and grasp the internal logic among the terms, categories, and main theories within the independent knowledge system. From the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC [1]1 The Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC was held in October 2020 and adopted proposals for the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) and long-range objectives through 2035., which took the promotion of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as its central task, to the 20th National Congress of the CPC, which took Chinese-path modernization to comprehensively advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as its central task, and then to the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC [2]2 The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC was held in July 2024 and focused on further comprehensively deepening reform to advance Chinese-path modernization., which defined the critical period of comprehensively building a strong country and advancing the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-path modernization, and the determination to further comprehensively deepen reform closely around advancing Chinese-path modernization, this process outlines the dominant and main line of the practical logic and theoretical logic of the independent knowledge system of Chinese-path modernization. It also outlines the systematic, holistic, and coordinated academic and scholarly paradigm characteristics that systematic integration brings to Chinese-path modernization.

第三，中国式现代化系统集成是中国经济学自主知识体系内在逻辑延续的演进过程。习近平总书记指出，“我国哲学社会科学应该以我们正在做的事情为中心，从我国改革发展的实践中挖掘新材料、发现新问题、提出新观点、构建新理论。”只有在这一过程中，才能理解和把握自主知识体系中术语、范畴和主要理论之间的内在逻辑。从党的十九届五中全会以推进中华民族伟大复兴为中心任务，到党的二十大以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴的中心任务，再到党的二十届三中全会以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业关键时期的界定，以及紧紧围绕推进中国式现代化进一步全面深化改革的确定，这一过程勾画了中国式现代化自主知识体系的实践逻辑和理论逻辑的主导与主线，也勾画了系统集成对中国式现代化作出的系统性、整体性、协调性的学术性和学理性的范式特征。

Fourth, the basic form of the systemic integration of Chinese-path modernization achieves, in the independent knowledge system, the intrinsic unity of political and ideological character with academic and theoretical character. From the very inception of Chinese-path modernization, it has been permeated by the fundamental hallmark that the construction of China’s independent knowledge system must adhere to confidence in the path, confidence in the theory, confidence in the system, and confidence in the culture. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “Chinese-path modernization has broken the myth that ‘modernization equals Westernization,’ presented another picture of modernization, expanded the path choices for developing countries to achieve modernization, and provided a Chinese solution for humanity’s exploration of a better social system.” [3] The systemic integration of Chinese-path modernization has successfully made a preliminary depiction of this “picture” of the “Chinese solution” from the perspective of China’s independent knowledge system. At the same time, in the construction of the knowledge system, attention must be paid to the issue of independent versus dependent knowledge systems. In the 1970s, in the study of the “post-colonialism” issue, international academia reflected on the “decolonization process,” put forward the view that “the West’s study of the ‘East’ is actually just a method of dominating the East,” and criticized the phenomenon of the spread of the Western-centric “dependent” knowledge system. The autonomy in the construction of the independent knowledge system of Chinese-path modernization requires that, in terms of academic propositions, academic ideas, academic viewpoints, academic standards, academic discourse, and academic methods, and in the convergence and integration of knowledge systems based on the characteristics of Chinese social history and culture, it fully embodies Chinese characteristics, Chinese style, and Chinese manner.

第四，中国式现代化系统集成的基本形态在自主知识体系上达到政治性和思想性同学术性和学理性的内在统一。中国式现代化提出伊始，就渗透着中国自主知识体系建构要坚守道路自信、理论自信、制度自信和文化自信的根本标志。习近平总书记指出，“中国式现代化，打破了‘现代化=西方化’的迷思，展现了现代化的另一幅图景，拓展了发展中国家走向现代化的路径选择，为人类对更好社会制度的探索提供了中国方案。”中国式现代化的系统集成对“中国方案”的这幅“图景”，从中国自主知识体系上成功作出了初步描绘。同时，在知识体系建构上，要关注自主的和依附的知识体系的问题。20世纪70年代，在对“后殖民主义”问题的研究中，国际学术界对“去殖民化进程”作出反思，提出了“西方对‘东方’的研究其实只是支配东方的一种方法”的观点，并对其中存在的西方中心主义的“依附性”知识体系传播现象作出抨击。中国式现代化自主知识体系建构中的自主性则要求在学术命题、学术思想、学术观点、学术圭臬、学术话语和学术方法上，在中国社会历史文化特征基础和知识体系的汇聚与集成上，充分体现中国特色、中国风格和中国气派。

Fifth, the systemic integration of Chinese-path modernization emphasizes the exploration of methodology, forming a unique methodology within systemic integration. The interpretation of the worldview and methodology of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era at the 20th National Congress of the CPC, presented as the “Six Musts,” includes an exploration of the methodology of Chinese-path modernization. In February 2023, in the interpretation of the “theoretical system” of Chinese-path modernization, General Secretary Xi Jinping concentrated on the methodological exploration of Chinese-path modernization itself, making a methodological exploration covering the “Six Perspectives” and the “Six Relationships.” [4] The “Six Upholds” important principles proposed in the *Decision* [5] are even more an interpretation of the methodology for further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese-path modernization, which includes a specialized exploration of the method of systemic integration.

第五，中国式现代化系统集成注重方法论的探索，形成了系统集成中的独特方法论。党的二十大对习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的世界观和方法论作出的“六个必须坚持”的阐释，就包含了对中国式现代化方法论的探索。2023年2月，在对中国式现代化“理论体系”的阐释中，习近平总书记集中对中国式现代化本身的方法论探索，作出了涵盖“六观”和“六个关系”的方法论探索。《决定》提出的“六个坚持”的重要原则，更是对进一步全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化方法论的阐释，其中包含着对系统集成方法的专门探索。

Sixth, the systemic integration of Chinese-path modernization reflects an exploration of the internal logic of the independent knowledge system of Chinese economics, and also reflects a new exploration of the form and type of the knowledge system. Knowledge does not directly possess a disciplinary or theoretical systematicity; the convergence of knowledge into a knowledge system is the result of the role of problem awareness and problem orientation. According to problem orientation, the formation of knowledge into a knowledge system is driven by two basic orientations: one is an academic or theoretical orientation, and the other is an applied or practical orientation. British scholar Peter Burke, in *What is the History of Knowledge?*, mentioned that conflicts often occur between these two different types of knowledge systems. For example, in the early 15th century, when the construction of the Milan Cathedral in Italy began, a dispute arose between the local skilled stonemasons and the French engineer in charge of the project; the focus of the debate was actually which was more important, “practical knowledge” or “theoretical knowledge.” In fact, the debate between the two types of knowledge and knowledge systems that Burke mentioned is a debate between two types of knowledge systems driven by “practice” and “theory” orientations. Burke also mentioned that in the long-term debate between these two types of knowledge, there has been contempt of “theoretical knowledge” for “practical knowledge,” such as in the 17th century when professional doctors were keen to mock the practical knowledge of midwives and folk doctors; and there has also been disparagement of “theoretical knowledge” by “practical knowledge,” such as in the late 18th century when a French miller criticized those “doctors” who arrogantly tried to instruct mill workers and bakers in their own jobs. In fact, these different knowledge systems driven by different problem orientations are triggered by different problem orientations, and each has its own rationality for existence.

第六，中国式现代化系统集成体现了对中国经济学自主知识体系内在逻辑的探索，也体现了对知识体系形态和类型的新探索。知识并不直接具有学科或者学理上的体系性，知识向知识体系汇聚是问题意识、问题导向作用的结果。按照问题导向，知识成为知识体系由两种基本取向驱动：一种是学术性或者学理性的取向，另一种是应用性或者实践性的取向。英国学者彼得·伯克在《什么是知识史》中提到，这两种不同类型的知识体系之间经常会出现冲突，比如，15世纪初当意大利米兰大教堂开始修建时，当地熟练的石匠们和主管工程的法国工程师之间就发生了争论，争论的焦点实际上就是“实践知识”和“理论知识”究竟哪个更重要。其实，伯克提到的两类知识和知识体系的争论，就是由“实践”和“理论”取向驱动的两类知识体系的争论。伯克还提到，在这两类知识的长期争论中，有“理论知识”对“实践知识”的鄙视，如17世纪有过职业医生们热衷于嘲讽那些助产士和民间医生们的实践知识；也有“实践知识”对“理论知识”的贬损，如18世纪晚期，法国有个磨坊主批评那些“博士们”整日傲慢自大地想指点磨坊工和面包师的本职工作。事实上，这些由不同问题取向驱动的不同知识体系，是由不同的问题导向引发的，都有其存在的合理性。

The independent knowledge system presented by the systemic integration of Chinese-path modernization includes both the integration of knowledge driven by theoretical and academic problem orientations and the integration of knowledge driven by applied and practical problem orientations. In fact, the type of knowledge system formed by the combination of these two types of knowledge systems is a knowledge system that integrates theoretical orientation and practical orientation into one. Regarding this type of knowledge system, General Secretary Xi Jinping has explored it in the sense of a “systematized economic theory.” [6] One of its essential points is that, in problem orientation, they should be integrated into one, that is, “mastering scientific economic analysis methods, understanding the process of economic movement, grasping the laws of economic development, improving the ability to manage the socialist market economy, and accurately answering the theoretical and practical questions of China’s economic development.” The second essential point is that, in the formation process of this integrated knowledge system, it is necessary to adhere to “proceeding from national conditions, coming from Chinese practice and going to Chinese practice, writing papers on the land of the motherland, so that theoretical and policy innovations conform to China’s actual conditions and have Chinese characteristics.” The third essential point is that the hallmark of this integrated knowledge system lies in achieving “fully embodying advanced nature and scientific nature in theoretical and policy innovations.” The systemic integration of Chinese-path modernization has made a systematic exploration in the construction of this integrated type of independent knowledge system, providing important inspiration for the innovative development of China’s independent knowledge system.

中国式现代化系统集成所呈现的自主知识体系，既有学理性和学术性问题取向驱动的知识的集成，也有根据应用性和实践性问题取向驱动的知识的集成，实际上这两类知识体系结合而成的知识体系类型，是一种把理论取向和实践取向结合为一体的知识体系。对于这类知识体系，习近平总书记在“系统化的经济学说”意义上作过探索，其要义之一是，在问题导向上要结合为一体，即“掌握科学的经济分析方法，认识经济运动过程，把握经济发展规律，提高驾驭社会主义市场经济能力，准确回答我国经济发展的理论和实践问题”；要义之二是，在这种结合的知识体系的形成过程中，要坚持“从国情出发，从中国实践中来、到中国实践中去，把论文写在祖国大地上，使理论和政策创新符合中国实际、具有中国特色”；要义之三是，这种结合的知识体系的标志在于达到“使理论和政策创新充分体现先进性和科学性”。中国式现代化系统集成在这一结合类型的自主知识体系建构上作出了系统探索，对中国自主知识体系的创新发展具有重要启迪。

(The author is the Vice Chairman of the Social Science Committee of the Ministry of Education, a Boya Chair Professor at Peking University, and a researcher at the Peking University Research

（作者为教育部社会科学委员会副主任委员，北京大学博雅讲席教授、北京大学习近平经济思想研究中心研究员）

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