Deeply Comprehending the Inner Unity of the View of Contradiction and the Systems Concept

Generally speaking, the view of contradiction in dialectical materialism focuses on revealing the unity of opposites in the existence and development of the objective world, emphasizing the dialectical nature of relationships such as the universality and particularity of contradiction, identity and struggle, principal contradiction and secondary contradiction, the principal aspect and the secondary aspect of a contradiction, and internal and external causes. The systems concept in natural philosophy focuses on revealing the wholeness of the existence and development of the objective world, emphasizing the structural, hierarchical, functional, open, dynamic, and self-organizing characteristics of systems. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “We must have a holistic view, be thoroughly familiar with all kinds of contradictions, and at the same time closely focus on the principal contradiction and the central task, giving priority to resolving the principal contradiction and the principal aspect of the contradiction, thereby driving the resolution of other contradictions, achieving breakthroughs at key points amidst overall advancement, and driving the overall leap in the level of economic and social development through breakthroughs at key points, continuously advancing towards the goal of building a great modern socialist country in all respects.” [1]1 Xi Jinping, speech at the fifth plenary session of the 19th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, January 2022. It can be seen from this that the Marxist view of contradiction and the systems concept are not two entirely different ideas, but possess an inner unity. To deeply comprehend the Marxist view of contradiction and the systems concept, one should base oneself on the texts of the classic Marxist writers, paying particular attention, in the pioneering creation and inherited development of the Marxist view of contradiction and the systems concept, to deepening the understanding of the differences and connections between the Marxist view of contradiction and the systems concept, as well as their inner unity.

通常说来，唯物辩证法的矛盾观着重揭示客观世界存在与发展的对立统一性，强调矛盾的普遍性和特殊性、同一性和斗争性、主要矛盾与次要矛盾、矛盾的主要方面和次要方面以及内因和外因等关系的辩证性。自然哲学的系统观念着重揭示客观世界存在与发展的整体性，强调系统的结构性、层次性、功能性、开放性、动态性和自组织性等。习近平总书记指出：“我们要有全局观，对各种矛盾做到了然于胸，同时又要紧紧围绕主要矛盾和中心任务，优先解决主要矛盾和矛盾的主要方面，以此带动其他矛盾的解决，在整体推进中实现重点突破，以重点突破带动经济社会发展水平整体跃升，朝着全面建成社会主义现代化强国的奋斗目标不断前进。”由此可见，马克思主义的矛盾观与系统观念并非两种迥然而异的思想观念，而是具有内在的统一性。深刻领悟马克思主义的矛盾观与系统观念，应立足马克思主义经典作家的文本，特别重视在马克思主义矛盾观与系统观念的开拓创立与传承发展中，深化认识马克思主义矛盾观与系统观念的区别与联系及其内在统一性。

The view of contradiction and the systems concept are unified in the systematic nature of contradiction and the contradictory nature of systems

矛盾观与系统观念统一于矛盾的系统性与系统的矛盾性

First, contradiction possesses a systematic nature. Regarding the systematic nature of contradiction, Comrade Mao Zedong provided a very clear classical exposition: “A big thing, in the process of its development, contains many contradictions... Not only must one understand the particularity of each contradiction in the totality of contradictions, that is, in their interconnections, but only by starting from the study of each aspect of the contradictions is it possible to understand their totality.” [2]2 Mao Zedong, *On Contradiction*, August 1937. As for the systematic nature of contradiction, it mainly includes three important meanings. First, objective things contain many contradictions, that is, contradiction possesses a systematic nature. Second, the particularity of objective things originates from the interconnection of many contradictions, that is, contradiction possesses systemic wholeness. Third, the dialectical relationships within each of the many contradictions, that is, contradiction possesses the hierarchy of systemic structure.

首先，矛盾具有系统性。关于矛盾的系统性，毛泽东同志给予了十分明确的经典阐释：“一个大的事物，在其发展过程中，包含着许多的矛盾……不但要在各个矛盾的总体上，即矛盾的相互联结上，了解其特殊性，而且只有从矛盾的各个方面着手研究，才有可能了解其总体。”就矛盾的系统性而言，其中主要包括三个方面的重要含义，其一，客观事物包含许多矛盾，即矛盾具有系统性。其二，客观事物的特殊性源于许多矛盾的相互联结，即矛盾具有系统整体性。其三，许多矛盾中的各个矛盾内部的辩证关系，即矛盾具有系统结构的层次性。

Moreover, Comrade Mao Zedong, based on the great practice of the New Democratic Revolution, creatively put forward the idea of the principal contradiction within the system of contradictions in human society. He further pointed out: “If there are many contradictions in any process, one of them is necessarily the principal, playing the leading and decisive role, while the others are secondary and subordinate. Therefore, in studying any process, if it is a complex process with more than two contradictions, one must use all one’s strength to find its principal contradiction. Once this principal contradiction is grasped, all problems can be readily solved. This is the method Marx taught us in his study of capitalist society.” [3]3 Mao Zedong, *On Contradiction*, August 1937. This is undoubtedly a pioneering exposition of the systemic structure of contradictions in human society, and at the same time a principled exposition of the system of contradictions in human society, representing a foundational and original innovation of the systems concept.

不仅如此，毛泽东同志还立足新民主主义革命的伟大实践，创造性地提出了关于人类社会矛盾系统的主要矛盾思想。他进一步指出：“任何过程如果有多数矛盾存在的话，其中必定有一种是主要的，起着领导的、决定的作用，其他则处于次要和服从的地位。因此，研究任何过程，如果是存在着两个以上矛盾的复杂过程的话，就要用全力找出它的主要矛盾。捉住了这个主要矛盾，一切问题就迎刃而解了。这是马克思研究资本主义社会告诉我们的方法。”这无疑是关于人类社会矛盾系统结构的开拓性阐释，同时也是关于人类社会矛盾系统的原理性论述，是系统观念的基础性、原创性创新。

Regarding the systematic nature of contradiction, there is also relevant research in academic circles: “In the historical journey of our country from a large country to a powerful country, the tasks of reform, development, and stability we face are more arduous, the contradictions, risks, and challenges are more complex, increasingly exhibiting systematic characteristics. The systematic nature of contradiction means that the system is full of contradictions, and the system becomes a collection of various contradictions.” [4]4 Source not specified in the original text; likely a reference to contemporary Chinese scholarly work on the systematic nature of contradictions. Therefore, the systematic nature of contradiction is rooted in the universality of contradiction. It is precisely because of the universality of contradiction, that contradictions exist everywhere and at all times in all things, and the interaction of various contradictions is necessarily systematic, and at the same time structural, hierarchical, pluralistic, open, and self-organizing, etc. Otherwise, the objective world of contradictions we face would be mutually isolated, closed, chaotic without regularity, and unknowable.

关于矛盾的系统性，学界也有相关研究，“在我国由大国迈向强国的历史征程中，我们面临的改革发展稳定的任务更加繁重，矛盾风险挑战愈加复杂，越发呈现出系统性的特征。矛盾的系统性，是指系统内部充满矛盾，系统成为各种矛盾的集合体。”所以，矛盾的系统性根源于矛盾的普遍性。正是由于矛盾的普遍性，万事万物时时处处都存在着矛盾，诸种矛盾的相互作用必然是系统的，同时也是结构的、层次的、多元的、开放的和自组织性的，等等。否则，我们所面对的客观的矛盾世界就是相互孤立的、封闭的，是混乱没有规律性可言的，是不可知的。

Second, systems possess a contradictory nature. Regarding the contradictory nature of systems, General Secretary Xi Jinping has made a creative classical exposition: “We must uphold the systems concept. All things are interconnected and interdependent. Only by observing things from the perspective of universal connection, comprehensive system, and development and change can we grasp the laws of development of things. ... Properly handle the relationships between the whole and the part, the present and the long-term, the macro and the micro, the principal contradiction and the secondary contradiction, the special and the general, and continuously improve the abilities of strategic thinking, historical thinking, dialectical thinking, systemic thinking, innovative thinking, law-based thinking, and bottom-line thinking.” [5]5 Xi Jinping, report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC, October 2022. Therefore, as for the contradictory nature of systems, it mainly includes two important meanings. First, “All things are interconnected and interdependent. Only by observing things from the perspective of universal connection, comprehensive system, and development and change can we grasp the laws of development of things.” That is, the systems concept possesses the ontological characteristics of dialectical materialism and is the inner unity of world outlook and methodology. Second, concerning the proper handling of the relationship between the “principal contradiction and the secondary contradiction” and continuously improving the ability of “dialectical thinking,” etc., that is, the systems concept emphasizes the imbalance between the principal contradiction and secondary contradictions within the system structure, and the systems concept encompasses the “seven thinking abilities” including dialectical thinking.

其次，系统具有矛盾性。关于系统的矛盾性，习近平总书记作出了创造性的经典阐释：“必须坚持系统观念。万事万物是相互联系、相互依存的。只有用普遍联系的、全面系统的、发展变化的观点观察事物，才能把握事物发展规律。……把握好全局和局部、当前和长远、宏观和微观、主要矛盾和次要矛盾、特殊和一般的关系，不断提高战略思维、历史思维、辩证思维、系统思维、创新思维、法治思维、底线思维能力。”因此，就系统的矛盾性而言，其中主要包括两个方面的重要含义：其一，“万事万物是相互联系、相互依存的。只有用普遍联系的、全面系统的、发展变化的观点观察事物，才能把握事物发展规律。”即系统观念具有唯物辩证法的本体论特征，是世界观和方法论的内在统一；其二，有关把握好“主要矛盾和次要矛盾”的关系，不断提高“辩证思维”的能力，等等，即系统观念重视系统结构中主要矛盾和次要矛盾的不平衡性，系统观念统摄包括辩证思维在内的“七大思维能力”。

At the same time, General Secretary Xi Jinping further clarified that the systems concept emphasizes the unity of the “two-point theory” and the “key-point theory”: “We must adhere to the systems viewpoint. ... We must adhere to the unity of the ‘two-point theory’ and the ‘key-point theory,’ be good at clarifying the principal contradiction and the secondary contradiction, the principal aspect and the secondary aspect of a contradiction, distinguish priorities, and while taking care of the general, firmly grasp the principal contradiction and the principal aspect of the contradiction, driving overall progress through breakthroughs at key points, and achieving breakthroughs at key points amidst overall progress.” [6]6 Xi Jinping, speech on upholding the systems concept, context unspecified in the original text.

同时，习近平总书记还进一步明确系统观念强调“两点论”和“重点论”的统一：“要坚持系统的观点。……要坚持‘两点论’和‘重点论’的统一，善于厘清主要矛盾和次要矛盾、矛盾的主要方面和次要方面，区分轻重缓急，在兼顾一般的同时紧紧抓住主要矛盾和矛盾的主要方面，以重点突破带动整体推进，在整体推进中实现重点突破。”

Relevant research in academic circles also affirms the contradictory nature of systems. For example, the unity of opposites of contradiction highlights that contradiction analysis is a method for analyzing the driving force of the development of the social organism, and is the “dynamics” of the systems concept. The key points within a system are the principal contradictions that play a dominant role among the many contradictions. We believe that the contradictory nature of systems essentially deepens the understanding of the unity of opposites in the interaction of the constituent elements within the system structure, and also deepens the understanding of the imbalance in the mutual relationships of the constituent elements within the system structure. The wholeness of a system originates from the unity of opposites and the imbalance in the interaction of the constituent elements within the system structure.

学界有关研究亦肯定系统的矛盾性。如矛盾的对立统一性彰显矛盾分析是解析社会有机体发展动力的方法，是系统观念的“动力学”。系统中的关节点就是诸多矛盾中起支配作用的主要矛盾。我们认为，系统的矛盾性实质上是深化了对系统结构中诸构成要素相互作用的对立统一性认识，同时也深化了对系统结构中诸构成要素相互关系的不平衡性认识。系统的整体性根源于系统结构中诸构成要素相互作用的对立统一性及其不平衡性。

The view of contradiction and the systems concept are unified in the inherited innovation of the Marxist view of contradiction and the systems concept

矛盾观与系统观念统一于马克思主义矛盾观与系统观念的传承创新

First, the inherited innovation of the Marxist view of contradiction. The establishment of any ideological theory is not immutable, but is continuously enriched and developed through inheritance and practice. The same is true for the Marxist view of contradiction. Marx and Engels established the view of contradiction in dialectical materialism. Lenin further emphasized, “Dialectics can be briefly defined as the doctrine of the unity of opposites. This would grasp the core of dialectics, but it requires explanation and development.” [7]7 V. I. Lenin, *Conspectus of Hegel’s Science of Logic*, 1914-1916. Lenin’s idea was only an outline and was not elaborated. Comrade Mao Zedong further took the law of the unity of opposites as the fundamental law of the universe: “This dialectical world outlook mainly teaches people to be good at observing and analyzing the movement of contradictions in various things.” [8]8 Mao Zedong, *On Contradiction*, August 1937. In *On Contradiction*, Comrade Mao Zedong comprehensively expounded a series of basic theoretical issues concerning the universality and particularity of contradiction, the principal contradiction and the secondary contradiction, the principal contradiction and the principal aspect of a contradiction, the identity and struggle of the aspects of a contradiction, and the place of antagonism in contradiction, highlighting the core position of the law of the unity of opposites among the three fundamental laws and basic categories of dialectical materialism, achieving the systematization and theorization of the Marxist view of contradiction.

首先，马克思主义矛盾观的传承创新。任何一种思想理论的创立都并非是一成不变的，而是在传承中、在实践中不断丰富发展的。马克思主义矛盾观亦然。马克思、恩格斯创立了唯物辩证法的矛盾观。列宁进一步强调，“可以把辩证法简要地规定为关于对立面的统一的学说。这样就会抓住辩证法的核心，可是这需要说明和发挥。”列宁的这一思想只是一个提纲，没有展开。毛泽东同志更进一步将对立统一规律作为宇宙的根本规律，“这个辩证法的宇宙观，主要地就是教导人们要善于去观察和分析各种事物的矛盾的运动。”在《矛盾论》中，毛泽东同志全面阐发了关于矛盾的普遍性和特殊性、主要矛盾与次要矛盾、主要的矛盾和主要的矛盾方面、矛盾诸方面的同一性和斗争性以及对抗在矛盾斗争中的地位等一系列基本理论问题，突出了对立统一规律在唯物辩证法三大规律和基本范畴中的核心地位，实现了马克思主义矛盾观的体系化、学理化。

This profoundly illustrates that the Marxist view of contradiction is continuously developed through inheritance; we cannot rigidly adhere to a textbook-style view of contradiction, nor should we mechanically apply the systems concept of natural philosophy. At the same time, as Comrade Mao Zedong’s classic exposition on the systematic nature of contradiction cited above fully reveals, the Marxist view of contradiction contains rich implications of the systems concept. Entering the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, General Secretary Xi Jinping’s series of important discourses on the principal contradiction of society in the New Era have further promoted the innovative development of the Marxist view of contradiction. Relevant research holds that General Secretary Xi Jinping has put forward the categories of “holism, relationalism, and synergism” of contradiction, strengthening the grasp of the overall situation and internal relations of contradictions, emphasizing the relationship between overall advancement and breakthroughs on key points, and refining new identifying concepts and categories for the discourse system of socialist contradictions, thereby achieving innovative development of the theoretical discourse system of socialist contradictions. In other words, the inheritance and innovation of the Marxist view of contradiction profoundly reveals the intrinsic unity of the Marxist view of contradiction and the systems concept.

这深刻说明，马克思主义的矛盾观是在传承中不断发展的，我们不能固守教科书式的矛盾观，同样切忌照搬自然哲学的系统观念。同时，正如前文所引述的毛泽东同志关于矛盾系统性的经典阐释，也充分揭示出马克思主义矛盾观具有丰富的系统观念意蕴。步入中国特色社会主义新时代，习近平总书记关于新时代社会主要矛盾的系列重要论述进一步推动了马克思主义矛盾观的创新发展。有关研究认为，习近平总书记提出了矛盾“整体论、关联论、协同论”的范畴，加强了对矛盾的全局性及内在关系的把握，强调整体推进和重点突破的关系，提炼了关于社会主义矛盾话语体系新的标识性概念、范畴，实现了对社会主义矛盾理论话语体系的创新性发展。换言之，马克思主义矛盾观的传承创新，深刻揭示出马克思主义矛盾观与系统观念的内在统一性。

Secondly, the inheritance and innovation of the Marxist systems concept. The inheritance and innovation of the Marxist systems concept continuously drives the innovative development of the Marxist systems concept and the view of contradiction, further highlighting the intrinsic unity of the view of contradiction and the systems concept. First, General Secretary Xi Jinping explicitly proposed the systems concept for the first time. The Marxist view of contradiction contains rich implications of the systems concept, but Marxist classical writers such as Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Mao Zedong had not yet explicitly proposed the systems concept. In the history of the development of the Marxist systems concept theory, General Secretary Xi Jinping creatively proposed and elaborated on the systems concept. Second, General Secretary Xi Jinping established a theoretical system of the systems concept. General Secretary Xi Jinping’s series of important discourses on adhering to the systems concept, at the height of worldview and methodology, integrate the view of contradiction and the systems concept, emphasize the systematic nature of contradiction and the contradictory nature of systems, and uphold the unity of opposites as the root of the development of contradictory systems, achieving a major theoretical innovation in the Marxist systems concept and the view of contradiction. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out: “The real process of interaction and counteraction between the productive forces and the relations of production, and between the economic base and the superstructure, is not a simple, linear logic of determination and being determined. We proposed the plan for comprehensively deepening reform because the prominent contradictions and problems we face cannot be resolved by reforms in a single field or at a single level alone; we must strengthen top-level design and overall planning, and enhance the interconnectedness, systematicness, and synergy of various reforms. Only by solving both the problems of the relations of production that are not suited and the problems of the superstructure that are not suited can we produce a comprehensive effect.” [9]9 Xi Jinping, “Explanatory Notes on the ‘Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Several Major Issues Concerning Comprehensively Deepening Reform’,” November 9, 2013. According to General Secretary Xi Jinping’s series of important discourses on adhering to the systems concept, we can clarify that the worldview of adhering to the systems concept is the hierarchical unity of the systems concept of ecological civilization concerning the contradiction between humanity and nature, the systems concept of a community with a shared future for mankind concerning the contradiction of human society, and the systems concept of putting the people first concerning the principal contradiction of society in socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era. The methodology of adhering to the systems concept, meanwhile, is the overall construction of the general principles of forward-looking thinking, overall planning, and holistic advancement; the basic relationships between the whole and the part, the immediate and the long-term, the macro and the micro, the principal contradiction and secondary contradictions, and the particular and the general; and the main pathways of strategic thinking, historical thinking, dialectical thinking, systematic thinking, innovative thinking, law-based thinking, and bottom-line thinking.

其次，马克思主义系统观念的传承创新。马克思主义系统观念的传承创新，不断推动马克思主义系统观念以及矛盾观的创新发展，进一步彰显矛盾观与系统观念的内在统一性。其一，习近平总书记首次明确提出系统观念。马克思主义矛盾观具有丰富的系统观念意蕴，但马克思、恩格斯、列宁和毛泽东等马克思主义经典作家尚未能明确提出系统观念，在马克思主义系统观念理论发展史上，习近平总书记创造性提出并阐释了系统观念。其二，习近平总书记创立了系统观念理论体系。习近平总书记关于坚持系统观念的系列重要论述，在世界观和方法论高度，融汇矛盾观和系统观念，强调矛盾的系统性与系统的矛盾性，坚持矛盾系统发展根源的对立统一性，实现了马克思主义系统观念以及矛盾观的重大理论创新。习近平总书记指出：“生产力和生产关系、经济基础和上层建筑之间有着作用和反作用的现实过程，并不是单线式的简单决定和被决定逻辑。我们提出全面深化改革的方案，是因为要解决我们面临的突出矛盾和问题，仅仅依靠单个领域、单个层次的改革难以奏效，必须加强顶层设计、整体谋划，增强各项改革的关联性、系统性、协同性。只有既解决好生产关系中不适应的问题，又解决好上层建筑中不适应的问题，这样才能产生综合效应。”根据习近平总书记关于坚持系统观念的系列重要论述，我们可以明晰坚持系统观念的世界观是人与自然矛盾的生态文明系统观念、人类社会矛盾的命运共同体系统观念、新时代中国特色社会主义社会主要矛盾的人民至上系统观念的层次统一。而坚持系统观念的方法论，则是前瞻性思考、全局性谋划、整体性推进的一般原则，全局和局部、当前和长远、宏观和微观、主要矛盾和次要矛盾、特殊和一般的基本关系，战略思维、历史思维、辩证思维、系统思维、创新思维、法治思维、底线思维的主要路径的整体构建。

【This article is a series of results from the Jiangxi Provincial University Humanities and Social Sciences Key Research Base project “Research on the Systems Concept and Research Paradigm Innovation of the Scientific Thesis on the Principal Contradiction of Society in the New Era”】

【本文系江西省高校人文社科重点研究基地项目“新时代社会主要矛盾科学论断的系统观念与研究范式创新研究”系列成果】

(The authors are researchers at the Systems Concept Research Center of Nanchang Institute of Technology)

（作者系南昌工学院系统观念研究中心研究员）

Online editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧