Three Dimensions for Developing Philosophy and Social Sciences with Chinese Characteristics

On 17 May 2016, General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at a symposium on philosophy and social sciences, providing a concise and overarching explanation of the characteristics of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, and laying out a concrete plan for the normative model and practical construction of philosophy and social sciences around the issue of development. Over the past eight years, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has issued a series of important speeches and made a series of important instructions on accelerating the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics. These top-level designs and theoretical innovations have not only become an important component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, but have also promoted the flourishing and development of various undertakings in philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics on a practice-oriented basis. Under the epochal requirement of high-quality development, it is necessary to deeply study and comprehend the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speeches, follow the stylistic features of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, and, starting from the three dimensions of development perspective, development impetus, and development thinking, conduct an in-depth examination of the strategic development task of accelerating the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, with the aim of striving to build a system of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics that features an optimal disciplinary layout, a solid academic foundation, a high level of scientific research, strong service capabilities, and significant international influence, thereby providing strong intellectual and theoretical support for comprehensively building a modern socialist country.

2016年5月17日，习近平总书记在哲学社会科学工作座谈会上发表重要讲话，对中国特色哲学社会科学的特征作出了提纲挈领的阐释，围绕发展问题对哲学社会科学的应然模式与现实建构展开了谋篇布局的具体规划。八年来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央基于加快构建中国特色哲学社会科学发表了一系列重要讲话、作出了一系列重要指示，这些顶层设计与理论创新成果不仅成为习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的重要组成部分，也在实践导向的基础上促进了中国特色哲学社会科学各项事业的繁荣发展。在高质量发展的时代要求下，必须深入学习领会习近平总书记的重要讲话精神，遵循中国特色哲学社会科学的风格特点，从发展视角、发展动力、发展思维三个向度出发，深入审视加快构建中国特色哲学社会科学的战略性发展任务，以期努力建设学科布局优、学术根基牢、科研水平高、服务能力强、国际影响大的中国特色哲学社会科学，为全面建设社会主义现代化国家提供有力思想和智力支持。

Mastering Historical Initiative through the Integration of Ancient and Modern, Chinese and Foreign

在古今中外融通中掌握历史主动

As a systematic project, philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics are the result forged by various resources from ancient to modern times. The synchronic self-consistency and diachronic perfection of their system content both require drawing beneficial nourishment from various resources in the environment in which they are situated. The three types of resources that General Secretary Xi Jinping emphatically highlighted—the theoretical system of Marxism, fine traditional Chinese culture, and foreign philosophy and social sciences—possess cross-boundary, cross-temporal, and cross-subject reference characteristics for philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics. They determine the line of thinking that must be upheld in developing philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, namely: to base ourselves on China, draw on foreign experience, excavate history, grasp the contemporary, care for humanity, and face the future; to sort out the beneficial references of diverse resources within the horizontal and vertical divisions of the content dimension; to focus on intellectual resonances that transcend eras within the linear evolution of the historical dimension; and to strengthen the value consensus of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics through exchange and mutual learning in the subject dimension.

中国特色哲学社会科学作为一个系统工程，是古往今来各式资源共同铸就的成果，其体系内容的共时性自洽与历时性完善均需要从所处环境中汲取各类资源的有益滋养。习近平总书记着重强调的马克思主义理论体系、中华优秀传统文化、国外哲学社会科学这三方面的资源，对于中国特色哲学社会科学而言兼具跨界、跨时、跨主体的参考特质，决定着发展中国特色哲学社会科学所需秉持的思路，即要立足中国、借鉴国外，挖掘历史、把握当代，关怀人类、面向未来，在内容维度的横纵划分中梳理多元资源的有益参考，在历史维度的线性演进中对焦跨越时代的思想共鸣，在主体维度的交流互鉴中强化中国特色哲学社会科学的价值共识。

To accelerate the production of original research achievements in philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, it is necessary to carry forward the spirit of historical initiative, adhere to the principle of not forgetting the original, absorbing the foreign, and facing the future, comprehensively expand the development perspective, precisely grasp the epochal development orientation of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, and achieve efficient integration and utilization of various resources. First, we must look inward and explore the practical value of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics in major issues concerning the national economy and people’s livelihood. Advanced theoretical systems have never been suspended in stagnation by thin rhetoric and propaganda; rather, they continuously complete logical self-consistency and truth verification in practical reality. Philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics possess the distinctive quality of Marxist theory; they are not dogma but a guide to action. They must proceed from China’s actual conditions, provide constructive theoretical guidance on practical issues such as the questions of China and the questions of the people as practice changes, and continuously engage in theoretical innovation on the basis of practice. Second, we must look outward and continuously provide ideas and methods for the questions of the world concerning the future and destiny of humanity. Maintaining a global vision is one of the worldviews and methodologies of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. As the frontier of the Party’s theoretical innovation, philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics should expand their global perspective, grasp the trends of human development and progress as well as the common concerns of people of all countries, absorb and draw on all outstanding achievements of human civilization, contribute to solving common problems facing humanity, and demonstrate their own epochal value. Third, we must look forward and hit the core issues of the questions of the times. Accurately grasping the development trends of socialism with Chinese characteristics, a modern socialist power, and a long-term Marxist ruling party, and consistently providing strategic development guidance, are the epochal issues that philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics directly confront, and they also demonstrate the functional presence of a scientific theoretical system. Finally, we must look backward and activate the vitality of fine traditional Chinese culture. Without the historical accumulation of more than five thousand years of Chinese civilization, “Chinese characteristics” would be impossible to discuss. Fine traditional Chinese culture nurtures the most basic cultural genes and profound cultural traditions of Chinese civilization, and it is the historical and cultural resource on which philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics firmly take root. We must continuously strengthen the excavation and elucidation of fine traditional Chinese culture, and through creative transformation and innovative development, ensure that the knowledge, wisdom, and rational speculation accumulated by the Chinese nation over several thousand years can have a new and complete “footnote” within the system of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics.

加快推出中国特色哲学社会科学具有独创性的研究成果，就必须发扬历史主动精神，坚持不忘本来、吸收外来、面向未来的原则，全方位拓展发展视角，精准把握中国特色哲学社会科学的时代发展方位，实现各类资源的高效融通与利用。首先，要坚持向内看，在关系国计民生的重大课题中发掘中国特色哲学社会科学的实践价值。先进理论体系向来不会被单薄的言说与宣讲所架空而陷入停滞，而是会不断在现实实践中完成逻辑自洽与真理性检验。中国特色哲学社会科学具有马克思主义理论的鲜明特质，其不是教条而是行动指南，必须从我国实际出发，随着实践的变化而对中国之问、人民之问等实践问题作出建设性理论指导，并不断进行实践基础上的理论创新。其次，要坚持向外看，不断为关系人类前途命运的世界之问提供思路和办法。坚持胸怀天下是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的世界观方法论之一，中国特色哲学社会科学作为党的理论创新前沿，理应拓展世界眼光，把握好人类发展进步潮流及各国人民的普遍关切，吸收借鉴人类一切优秀文明成果，为解决人类面临的共同问题作出贡献，彰显其自身的时代价值。再次，要坚持向前看，切中时代之问的核心议题。能够准确把握中国特色社会主义、社会主义现代化强国以及长期执政的马克思主义政党的发展趋势，并始终予以战略性发展指导，是中国特色哲学社会科学直面的时代课题，也能够彰显科学理论体系的功能性在场。最后，要坚持向后看，激活中华优秀传统文化的生命力。倘若没有中华文明五千多年的历史积淀，“中国特色”也就无从谈起。中华优秀传统文化蕴育着中华文明最基本的文化基因和深厚的文化传统，是中国特色哲学社会科学得以牢牢扎根的历史与文化资源。要不断加强对中华优秀传统文化的挖掘和阐发，通过创造性转化、创新性发展，确保中华民族几千年来积累的知识智慧和理性思辨能够在中国特色哲学社会科学体系中拥有崭新和完善的“注脚”。

Adhering to Theoretical Innovation Guided by Problem Orientation

在问题导向引领中坚持理论创新

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Whether our philosophy and social sciences have Chinese characteristics ultimately depends on whether they have subjectivity and originality.” As society develops, practical contradictions and problems are not static; the vitality and truth of theory must be tested in the resolution of real and tangible difficulties. For philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics to demonstrate subjectivity, epochal character, and originality, it is necessary to broadly consolidate development impetus with theoretical innovation as the core driving force, ensuring real-time updates and dynamic adjustments of the system’s content.

习近平总书记指出：“我们的哲学社会科学有没有中国特色，归根到底要看有没有主体性、原创性。”随着社会的发展，现实的矛盾问题不是一成不变的，理论的生命力和真理性要在实打实的难题化解中得到检验。中国特色哲学社会科学要彰显主体性、时代性和原创性，必须广泛凝聚以理论创新为核心驱动的发展动力，确保体系内容的实时更新与动态调整。

Emphasize the shaping of subjectivity in philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics. Subjectivity is mainly embodied in the worldview and methodology followed by the subjects shaping the theory of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, particularly the active attributes and critical spirit they can exert. Philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics are the ideological frontier of the Chinese people themselves. The orderly expansion and characteristic cultivation of their system content must be based on China’s actual conditions; what flowers bloom and what fruits are borne should naturally be cultivated autonomously. Approaches of model imitation and following in others’ footsteps are not advisable under the prerequisite requirement of subjectivity shaping. We must adhere to a dialectical viewpoint and critical thinking, insist on taking Chinese tradition, Chinese practice, and Chinese problems as the starting point and foothold for constructing the system of philosophy and social sciences, and build a disciplinary system, academic system, and discourse system with our own characteristics and advantages.

注重中国特色哲学社会科学的主体性塑造。主体性主要体现于中国特色哲学社会科学理论塑造主体所遵循的世界观和方法论，特别是其所能发挥的能动属性和批判精神。中国特色哲学社会科学是中国人自己的思想前沿阵地，其体系内容的有序扩容和特色培塑要立足于我国实际，开什么花、结什么果理应经由自主修葺，模式效仿、亦步亦趋的做法在主体性塑造的前提要求下并不可取。必须坚持辩证的观点、批判的思维，坚持以中国传统、中国实践、中国问题作为哲学社会科学体系建设的出发点和落脚点，构建具有自身特色与优势的学科体系、学术体系、话语体系。

Focus on the epochal feedback of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics. The vitality of theory lies in innovation, and problems are the starting point of innovation. Problems and truth are inherently two sides of the same coin that accompany each other. The unfolding of practice always revolves around specific problems, and truth is tested by practice; thus, problems are the source of truth. Developing philosophy and social sciences is a process of understanding truth, testing truth, and developing truth in practice, and the orderly unfolding of this process is based on discovering problems, screening problems, studying problems, and solving problems. At the same time, problems are the voice of the times, the truth carriers that practical subjects explore at the frontier of the times and summarize. Therefore, philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics must take problems as the core development driver of their own system content, adhere to problem orientation, and highlight their epochal character and advanced nature in the process of resolving practical problems.

聚焦中国特色哲学社会科学的时代性反馈。理论的生命力在于创新，而问题则是创新的起始点。问题与真理本就是相伴相生的一体两面，实践的展开总是围绕特定的问题，真理又由实践所检验，因而问题是真理的源泉。发展哲学社会科学是在实践中认识真理、检验真理、发展真理的过程，而这一过程的有序展开是建立在发现问题、筛选问题、研究问题、解决问题基础之上的。与此同时，问题是时代的呼声，是实践主体探索时代前沿并予以总结的真理载体。因此，中国特色哲学社会科学必须将问题作为自身体系内容的核心发展驱动，坚持问题导向，在实际问题的化解过程中突出其时代性与先进性。

Strengthen the original-innovation construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics. Innovation is the eternal theme of the development of philosophy and social sciences; highlighting originality is inherent in continuously strengthening the advantages of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics. Since reform and opening up, the Communist Party of China has been able to respond precisely to a series of major epochal issues, putting forward original concepts and theories such as strengthening the Party’s governance capacity, building a socialist harmonious society, and building a community with a shared future for mankind, formulating various policies and advancing various tasks, and always staying at the forefront of the times in the historical process of profound changes in the world situation. This cannot be separated from the important role played by philosophy and social sciences. Looking to the future, the development of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics proceeds in the same direction and in step with the building of a strong country and a strong Party. It must continue to revolve around the practice of the various undertakings of the Chinese Communist Party’s governance and administration, take enhancing the capacity for original academic innovation as the main line, and make the excavation of new materials, the discovery of new problems, the proposal of new viewpoints, and the construction of new theories the focal points and priorities of development. It must manifest originality in the research and interpretation of new concepts, new ideas, and new strategies, and strive to enhance the system’s decision-making influence, social influence, and international influence.

强化中国特色哲学社会科学的原创性建构。创新是哲学社会科学发展的永恒主题，突出原创性是中国特色哲学社会科学不断强化其自身优势的题中之义。改革开放以来，中国共产党能够对一系列重大时代课题予以精准回应，提出加强党的执政能力建设、建设社会主义和谐社会、建设人类命运共同体等具有原创性的概念和理论，制定各项方针政策、推进各项工作，在世界形势深刻变化的历史进程中始终走在时代前列，离不开哲学社会科学所发挥的重要作用。面向未来，中国特色哲学社会科学的发展同强国建设、强党建设是同向同行的，要继续围绕中国共产党治国理政各项事业的发展实践，以提升学术原创能力为主线，将挖掘新材料、发现新问题、提出新观点、构建新理论作为发展的着力点、着重点，在新理念、新思想、新战略的研究阐释中彰显原创性，着力提高体系内容的决策影响力、社会影响力、国际影响力。

Construct a systemic project across multiple dimensional fields

在多维领域中构筑系统工程

General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: “Constructing a philosophy and social sciences system with Chinese characteristics is a systemic project and an extremely arduous task; top-level design must be strengthened, and the forces of all parties must be coordinated to advance it together.” Striving to build a comprehensive, all-field, all-element philosophy and social sciences system is the key developmental dimension for accelerating the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics. At present, it is necessary to implement the overall plan made by the Party Central Committee for the development of philosophy and social sciences during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, support it by strengthening the construction of the disciplinary system, the academic system, and the discourse system, further highlight the systematic nature and professionalism of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, and constantly adapt to the needs of the development of the times.

习近平总书记强调：“构建中国特色哲学社会科学是一个系统工程，是一项极其繁重的任务，要加强顶层设计，统筹各方面力量协同推进。”努力构建一个全方位、全领域、全要素的哲学社会科学体系，是加快构建中国特色哲学社会科学的重点发展向度。当下，必须贯彻落实党中央对“十四五”时期哲学社会科学发展作出的总体性规划，以加强学科体系、学术体系、话语体系建设为支撑，进一步凸显中国特色哲学社会科学的系统性和专业性，不断适应时代发展的需要。

In accordance with the requirements of highlighting advantages, expanding fields, making up for shortcomings, and perfecting the system, continuously build and strengthen the disciplinary system. It is necessary to aim at constructing a scientific and reasonable disciplinary system with Chinese characteristics and universal significance, strengthen the construction of the Marxist theoretical disciplinary system, and run Marxist positions, viewpoints, and methods through the compilation of teaching materials, classroom teaching, academic research, and the application of results; accelerate the improvement of disciplines such as philosophy and history that play a supporting role in philosophy and social sciences, and promote the sound and solid foundation of basic disciplines; pay attention to developing advantageous key disciplines, innovatively develop emerging and interdisciplinary disciplines with practical significance, and give full attention to niche disciplines with cultural value and heritage significance, so as to achieve full-field coverage of philosophy and social sciences in academic research and the application of results.

按照突出优势、拓展领域、补齐短板、完善体系的要求，持续建强学科体系。必须以构建科学合理、具有中国特色和普遍意义的学科体系为目标，加强马克思主义理论学科体系建设，将马克思主义立场、观点、方法贯穿于教材编纂、课堂教学、学术研究、成果应用等环节；加快完善哲学、历史学等对哲学社会科学具有支撑作用的学科，促进基础学科健全扎实；注重发展优势重点学科，创新发展具有现实意义的新兴学科和交叉学科，对具有文化价值和传承意义的冷门学科予以充分重视，实现哲学社会科学在学术研究和成果应用上的全领域覆盖。

Based on the academic frontier, innovate the construction of the academic system. The development of the academic system determines the subjectivity, originality, localization, and competitiveness of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics. It is necessary to innovate the academic theoretical system, adhere to independent knowledge production and theoretical creation, support and promote the Party’s theoretical innovation with academic innovation, and produce scholarship with ideas; it is necessary to strengthen the construction of the academic research organization system, focus on issues of common concern to the international community, launch and lead research projects, innovate the system of allocation, funding, and management of scientific research funds, and ensure the orderly conduct of academic research and scientific research activities; it is necessary to strive to build an academic platform support system, strengthen the construction of digital integrated platforms such as philosophy and social sciences databases, document centers, and high-end think tanks, and gather the advantages of academic resources; it is necessary to continuously improve the academic evaluation and assessment system, establish a system for promoting outstanding achievements, and lay the foundation for producing high-quality research results with a scientific, authoritative, open, and transparent system and mechanism.

立足学术前沿，创新学术体系建设。学术体系的发展决定着中国特色哲学社会科学的主体性、原创性、本土化和竞争力。要创新学术理论体系，坚持自主性知识生产和理论创造，以学术创新支撑和推动党的理论创新，做有思想的学问；要强化学术研究组织体系建设，聚焦国际社会共同关注的问题，推出并牵头组织研究项目，创新科研经费分配、资助、管理体制，确保学术研究、科研活动的有序开展；要着力构建学术平台支撑体系，加强哲学社会科学数据库、文献中心、高端智库等数字集成平台建设，集聚学术资源优势；要不断完善学术评价考核体系，建立优秀成果推介制度，以科学权威、公开透明的体制机制为产出高质量研究成果奠定基础。

Strengthen the construction of the discourse system, refining distinctive academic concepts with Chinese characteristics and global influence. The construction of a discourse system for philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics aims to interpret Chinese practice with Chinese theory and construct Chinese theory with Chinese practice, to explain the Chinese path and the Chinese model to the world with precise and vivid academic discourse, to provide solid theoretical support for building a strong country and national rejuvenation, to accelerate the pace of Chinese academia going global, and to form a broad vision and grand pattern of Chinese academia while drawing on the strengths of others.

加强话语体系建构，提炼出具有中国特色、世界影响的标识性学术概念。建设中国特色哲学社会科学话语体系，旨在用中国理论解读中国实践、用中国实践构建中国理论，以精准、生动的学术话语向世界阐述中国道路、中国模式，为强国建设、民族复兴提供坚实的学理支撑，加快中国学术走出去步伐，在博采众长中形成中国学术的大视野、大格局。

It is necessary to adhere to taking Chinese tradition, Chinese practice, and Chinese problems as the starting point and foothold of academic discourse construction, to create new concepts, new categories, and new expressions that are easy for the international community to understand and accept, to form academic propositions, academic ideas, academic viewpoints, and academic discourse capabilities commensurate with China’s comprehensive national strength and international status, and to enhance the international influence of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics.

要坚持以中国传统、中国实践、中国问题作为学术话语建构的出发点和落脚点，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，形成同我国综合国力和国际地位相匹配的学术命题、学术思想、学术观点、学术话语能力，提高中国特色哲学社会科学的国际影响力。

Online editor: Paul

网络编辑：保罗