The Marxist Evaluation System: Situational Analysis and Constructive Logic

The Marxist evaluation system is an evaluation system internal to the Marxist theoretical system, running through the productive forces, relations of production (economic base), and superstructure, employing the Marxist standpoint, viewpoint, and method for evaluation, and guiding the comprehensive development of the individual and the all-round progress of society. The Marxist evaluation system includes: a system for evaluating Marxist theory itself, an evaluation system with a Marxist character, and a system for evaluating social practice from a Marxist character. At present, the Marxist evaluation system faces severe challenges from evaluation systems such as capital, money, and refined egoism. It urgently needs to adhere to a people-centered approach, uphold historical materialism and dialectical materialism, and construct an evaluation system that meets the needs of the development of the times.

马克思主义评价体系是内在于马克思主义理论体系，贯穿于生产力、生产关系（经济基础）、上层建筑，运用马克思主义立场、观点与方法进行评价，引领人的全面发展、社会全面进步的评价体系。马克思主义评价体系包括：对马克思主义理论进行评价的体系、具有马克思主义性质的评价体系、对社会实践进行马克思主义性质评价的体系。当前，马克思主义评价体系面临资本、金钱、精致的利己主义等评价体系的严峻挑战，亟须坚持以人民为中心，坚持历史唯物主义、辩证唯物主义，建构适应时代发展需求的评价体系。

Situational Analysis of the Marxist Evaluation System

马克思主义评价体系的境遇分析

(I) The Marxist evaluation system faces challenges from the capital evaluation system. The family is the place where love and selflessness are most emphasized. However, the penetration of the capital evaluation system into even this most intimate of relationships is no exception. In ancient tribes, with low productive forces, whoever could best distribute the means of family subsistence gained respect; thus, women skilled in gathering wild fruits, caring for the elderly and young, and distributing daily necessities were respected. People were not only equal within the family but also equal in society. With the emergence of surplus products, human consciousness changed: "the man took command in the home," "the entire surplus of gain obtained fell to the man," and "the labor of the woman became an insignificant appendage." [1]1 The "two major departments" refer to Marx's schema in *Capital* Volume 2, which divides social production into Department I (means of production) and Department II (means of consumption), requiring proportional balance for smooth reproduction.

（一）马克思主义评价体系面临资本评价体系的挑战。家庭是最讲爱与无私之地。然而，资本评价体系对这一最具亲密性的关系的渗透概莫能外。古代部落生产力低下，谁能实现家庭生活品的最佳分配，谁就能获得尊崇，因此善于采摘野果、照顾老人幼儿、分配生活用品的妇女获得尊重。人不仅在家庭里平等，在社会中也是平等的。随着剩余产品出现，人的意识发生变化，“男子在家中占统治地位”，“谋生所得的全部剩余都归了男子”，“妇女的劳动是无足轻重的附属品”。

The evaluation standard, in the family—the place least concerned with private gain—thus began to mutate. It shifted from focusing on the intrinsic value of human (species) "self-respect, justice, fortitude, and courage" to gradually focusing on the extrinsic value of "procuring the means of subsistence" and manufacturing "the instruments for procuring the means of subsistence." [2]2 "Changes unseen in a century" is a standard rendering of the Chinese phrase 百年未有之大变局, a key geopolitical framing used by the Party Central Committee. Evaluation became externalized and symbolized. "Liberty, equality, and fraternity" were gradually replaced by private possessiveness, class exploitation, and the strong bullying the weak.

评价标准在家庭这一最不计私利之地，至此开始发生变异。它从注重人（类）“自尊心、公正、刚强和勇敢”的内在价值，逐渐转变为注重“谋取生活资料”、制造“谋取生活资料的工具”的外在价值，评价开始变得外在化、符号化。“自由、平等、博爱”逐渐被私人占有欲、阶级剥削、恃强凌弱代替。

(II) The Marxist evaluation system faces the impact of the "indicator-only" evaluation system. The performance-based evaluation system of "indicator-only" links teachers' performance assessments to students' test scores, and students' test scores are tied to teachers' bonuses and promotions. Under the interaction of exam scores, performance assessments, and rank promotions, the role models primary and secondary school teachers present to students are mostly high-scoring students. Students with poor exam scores, even if they possess good moral character and willpower, receive little praise. Because virtues, sentiments, and willpower cannot be quantified into numbers, nor can they be exchanged for teachers' performance evaluations, rank promotions, or title advancements. According to surveys, the students most susceptible to bullying in schools are, first, those with introverted personalities, and second, those with poor exam scores. Under the monetary and numerical evaluation system, the intrinsic value of a person's "self-respect, justice, fortitude, and courage" is neglected, leading to deep feelings of frustration among both students and teachers. Marx and Engels criticized the phenomenon where "the doctor, the lawyer, the priest, the poet, the man of science, into its paid wage-laborers." [3]3 "Domestic and international dual circulation" is a strategic concept introduced in 2020, referring to a development pattern where domestic economic circulation (内循环) and international economic circulation (外循环) reinforce each other. Overemphasizing scores, making scores the bond between teachers and students, distorts the teacher-student relationship, leading to mutual distrust, lack of closeness, and disrespect. Incidents of students (and parents) reporting teachers occur frequently, and teachers "want to manage but dare not," "want to manage but cannot." The monetary and numerical evaluation system erodes the healthy educational ecology of fostering virtue and nurturing talent.

（二）马克思主义评价体系面临“唯指标化”评价体系的冲击。“唯指标论”的绩效主义评价体系使得教师的绩效考核与学生考分挂钩，学生的考分关联教师奖金和晋升。在考试分数、绩效考核、职级晋升的相互作用下，中小学教师向学生树立的榜样多是高分学生。考分不佳的学生纵然拥有良好的道德情操、意志品质，也获赞甚少。因为美德情操、意志品质无法量化为数字，也无法置换为教师的绩效考评、评职晋级。据调查，在学校容易受霸凌的学生，一是性格内向者，一是考试成绩差者。在金钱数字考评体系下，人的“自尊心、公正、刚强和勇敢”内在价值旁落，这就导致学生和教师都深感挫败。马克思恩格斯曾批判“医生、律师、教士、诗人和学者变成了它出钱招雇的雇佣劳动者”的现象。过于强调分数，分数成为师生关系纽带，师生关系扭曲，互不信任、互不亲近、互不尊重，学生（家长）举报教师事件频出，教师“想管不敢管”，“想管管不了”。金钱数字考评体系侵蚀立德树人的良好教育生态。

(III) The Marxist evaluation system faces the query of the excessive development of individual consciousness. On pristine campuses, some young students exhibit excessive development of individual consciousness. Personal interests come first, neglecting the value of others and society; they believe in the supremacy of success, resorting to opportunistic tactics for grade points; they treat others as means to achieve their own ends, scheming to maximize self-interest, even becoming so-called "refined egoists." This leads to hindered development of self-identity. Scrambling for course credits and GPA, campaigning for student cadre positions, participating in various competitions, applying for various "Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Programs" [4]4 "New Era" is the standard rendering of 新时代, the official designation for the period since the 18th National Congress of the CPC (2012), marking the start of Xi Jinping's leadership., competing for awards and honors, seeking postgraduate recommendation exemptions, preparing for postgraduate entrance exams and civil service exams—busy and bustling, yet the mind and heart are empty. Conversely, there is also the phenomenon of "lying flat." [5]5 "Lying flat" (躺平) is a Chinese internet slang term describing a withdrawal from societal pressures, particularly the intense competition for career and material success, by minimizing effort and ambition. As the evaluation system becomes utilitarian, externalized, and formalized, people's sense of dignity, sublimity, and honor is severely weakened, causing some young people to be unable to find meaning in existence. In psychology, there is a concept called "learned helplessness," which refers to a psychological and mental state where a person is manipulated by external forces, unable to control themselves or exercise their subjectivity, and cannot feel the value of existence even when materially affluent. Learned helplessness leads to a lack of motivation for learning, disinterest in the real world, no passion for romantic relationships, and no confidence in marriage and childbearing. Because they "can't keep up the rat race, can't lie flat," some young people experience spiritual confusion.

（三）马克思主义评价体系面临个体意识过度发展的叩问。菁菁校园出现一些青年学子的个体意识过度发展。个人利益当头，忽视他人和社会价值；信奉成功至上，为了绩点而投机取巧；把别人当作实现自己目的的手段，处心积虑实现自我利益最大化，甚至成为所谓的“精致的利己主义者”，这就导致自我同一性发展受阻。拼学分绩点、竞选学生干部、参加各种竞赛、申请各种“大创”项目，评奖评优、推免保研、考研考公，忙忙碌碌，心脑空空。与此相反，还有“躺平”现象的出现。随着评价体系功利化、外在化、形式化，人的尊严感、崇高感、荣誉感严重弱化，导致一些青年找不到存在的意义。心理学有个概念“习得性无助”，是指人被外界操纵，无法掌控自我和发挥主体性，即使物质丰裕也感受不到存在价值的心理与精神状态。习得性无助导致学习无动力，对真实世界无兴趣，对恋爱无热情，对婚育无信心。由于“卷不动，躺不平”，一些青少年存在精神困惑。

The Constructive Logic of the Marxist Evaluation System

马克思主义评价体系的建构理路

(I) Adhere to a people-centered approach in constructing the evaluation system. People are both the practical subject of modernization, the key driving force for realizing modernization, and the value subject, the fundamental purpose of building Chinese-path modernization. General Secretary Xi Jinping points out, "The ultimate goal of modernization is the free and comprehensive development of the individual." [6]6 Xi Jinping, speech at the dialogue between the Communist Party of China and world political parties, 2023. Adhering to a people-centered approach, exalting the human spirit of "self-respect, justice, fortitude, and courage," stimulating the spirit of historical initiative, and realizing the people's happiness—this is the top-level logic for constructing the Marxist evaluation system.

（一）坚持以人民为中心建构评价体系。人既是现代化的实践主体、实现现代化的关键动力，也是价值主体、建设中国式现代化的根本目的。习近平总书记指出，“现代化的最终目标是实现人自由而全面的发展”。坚持以人民为中心，高扬人的“自尊心、公正、刚强和勇敢”精神，激发历史主动精神，实现人民幸福。这是建构马克思主义评价体系的顶层逻辑。

Scientifically set indicators for evaluating people's happiness. Regarding basic indicators for the comprehensive development of the individual, such as the proportion of children aged 0–14 receiving necessary daily companionship from family members, the proportion of disabled elderly receiving care from family members, average life expectancy, average years of education for the working-age population, and the divorce rate (reverse indicator). The first two are new indicators, providing a safety net for the comprehensive development of the individual. Regarding indicators for material and spiritual conditions, such as per capita disposable income of urban (or rural) residents, the proportion of per capita expenditure on education, culture, and entertainment, and the proportion of public service expenditure, these provide material and spiritual conditions to support the comprehensive development of the individual. Regarding indicators of public safety, such as the rate of access to safe drinking water, the food safety index, and the crime rate (reverse indicator). Regarding indicators of public satisfaction, such as the National Happiness Index and public satisfaction with public services. Reverse indicators, also known as negative indicators, mean the higher the value, the worse the situation.

科学设置人民幸福评价指标。关于人的全面发展的基础指标，如0—14周岁儿童每日获得家人必要陪伴比例、失能老人获得家人照护比例、人均寿命、劳动年龄人口平均受教育年限、离婚率（逆向指标）等。前两项是新的指标，为人的全面发展提供托底保障。关于物质与精神条件的指标，如城镇（或农村）居民人均可支配收入、人均教育文化娱乐支出占比、公共服务支出占比，为支撑人的全面发展提供物质与精神条件。关于民众安全感的指标，如安全饮水普及率、食品安全指数、犯罪率（逆向指标）等。关于民众满意度的指标，如国民幸福指数、公众对公共服务的满意度等。逆向指标又称反向指标，量值越高，情况越糟。

Adhere to the people-oriented standpoint and avoid the absolutization of evaluation indicators. For example, for the number of cars, washing machines, refrigerators (freezers), and air conditioners per 100 households, the balance point between residents' affluence and the "dual carbon" goals [7]7 "Dual carbon" goals (双碳目标) refer to China's stated policy objectives of reaching peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. must be considered. The Engel coefficient for residents is an internationally important indicator for measuring residents' living standards; it is the proportion of total food expenditure to total personal consumption expenditure. When adopting it, attention must be paid to the differences between Chinese and Western dietary cultures. Adhering to a people-centered approach in constructing the Marxist evaluation system requires properly solving the most immediate and practical problems of greatest concern to the people, continuously meeting the people's aspirations for a better life.

坚持人民性立场，避免评价指标绝对化。比如，居民每百户汽车、洗衣机、电冰箱（柜）、空调拥有量，须考虑居民富足与“双碳”目标的平衡点。居民恩格尔系数是国际通用的衡量居民生活水平的重要指标，是食品支出总额占个人消费支出总额的比重，采用时要注意我国与西方饮食文化的差异。坚持以人民为中心建构马克思主义评价体系，必须解决好人民最关心最直接最现实的利益问题，不断满足人民对美好生活的向往。

(II) Adhere to historical materialism in constructing the evaluation system. To construct the Marxist evaluation system, it is necessary to apply the law of movement of the fundamental contradictions of society. Focus on adjusting the contradictory relationships among productive forces, relations of production, as well as the economic base and superstructure, to lay a solid foundation for national prosperity. This is the meso-level logic for constructing the Marxist evaluation system.

（二）坚持历史唯物主义建构评价体系。建构马克思主义评价体系，要运用好社会基本矛盾运动规律。着力调整生产力、生产关系以及经济基础、上层建筑之间的矛盾关系，为国家富强筑牢根基。这是建构马克思主义评价体系的中观逻辑。

Scientifically set indicators for evaluating social development. Regarding indicators for evaluating productive forces, such as labor productivity, the proportion of the digital economy scale in GDP, the proportion of value added from strategic emerging industries in GDP, the contribution rate of human resources to economic growth, the proportion of basic research funding in total R&D expenditure, the conversion rate of scientific and technological achievements, and energy consumption per unit of GDP (reverse indicator). Regarding indicators for evaluating relations of production, such as per capita disposable income and growth rate of urban and rural residents, per capita consumption and growth rate of urban and rural residents, the proportion of the middle-income group, and the proportion of the resident consumption contribution rate in GDP. Regarding indicators for evaluating the superstructure, such as the National Security Index, the proportion of female deputies to the National People's Congress, the proportion of ethnic minority deputies to the National People's Congress, and the National Confidence Index. These are strong supports for national prosperity.

科学设置社会发展评价指标。关于生产力评价指标，如劳动生产率、数字经济规模占GDP比重、战略性新兴产业增加值占GDP比重、人才资源对经济增长的贡献率、基础研究经费投入占研发经费投入比重、科技成果转化率、单位GDP能耗（逆向指标）等。关于生产关系评价指标，如城乡居民人均可支配收入与增速、城乡居民人均消费与增速、中等收入群体占比、居民消费贡献率占GDP比重等。关于上层建筑评价指标，如国家安全指数、女性人大代表占比、少数民族人大代表占比、国民信心指数等，这是国家富强的有力支撑。

It is necessary to avoid formalization, absolutization, and externalization of evaluation indicators. For example, the urbanization rate reflects the degree of population concentration in urban areas and the speed of urbanization, but it cannot be absolutized. This is based not only on the Marxist theory of balanced and coordinated production between the two major departments [of social production] but also on the actual national conditions of China's huge population size. Another example: the total floating population can strongly support high-speed development and urban vitality, but excessive mobility also leads to problems such as an unstable family foundation, unstable family structure, declining marriage rates, rising divorce rates, declining fertility rates, lack of education for children, and lack of care for the elderly.

要避免评价指标形式化、绝对化、外在化。比如，城镇化率反映人口在城镇地域的聚集程度与城镇化速度，但不能绝对化。这不仅是基于马克思主义两大部类生产的平衡协调理论，也是基于我国人口规模巨大的现实国情。又如，流动人口总量能够有力支撑高速发展、城市活力，但是过度流动也导致家庭根基不牢、家庭结构不稳、结婚率下降、离婚率上升、生育率下降、子女教育缺失、老人赡养缺失等问题。

(3) Adhere to dialectical materialism in constructing the evaluation system. Constructing the evaluation system should be conducive to guiding comprehensive deepening of reform and high-level opening up, comprehensively and deeply participating in the adjustment and reshaping of the global industrial chain, value chain, and supply chain, and integrating into world development. This is the practical logic of constructing the Marxist evaluation system.

（三）坚持辩证唯物主义建构评价体系。建构评价体系要有利于引导全面深化改革和高水平对外开放，全面深度参与全球产业链、价值链、供应链调整和重塑，融入世界发展。这是建构马克思主义评价体系的实践逻辑。

At present, it is necessary both to see the severe situation posed by the changes unseen in a century and to strengthen confidence in the domestic and international dual circulation. We should make good use of the following evaluation indicators, such as: comprehensive grain production capacity, comprehensive energy production capacity, total value and growth rate of foreign trade imports and exports, trade volume in goods between China and partners in the Belt and Road Initiative, number of international scientific research cooperation platforms, cumulative participation in intergovernmental international organizations, quantity and categories of public goods provided for global development, number of person-times of Chinese military participation in UN peacekeeping operations, number of overseas students coming to China for study, number of overseas tourists visiting China, proportion of young people aged 14–35 who view the world on an equal footing, satisfaction of high-level talents coming to China, overseas box office of domestic films in the New Era, and overseas evaluation of China's international aid. Through the guidance of indicators, we strive to shape a three-dimensional, comprehensive, open, inclusive, strong, and amiable image of China, providing a peaceful and stable guarantee for the comprehensive development of the individual.

当前，既要看到大变局面临的严峻形势，又要坚定对国内国际双循环的信心。我们要用好以下评价指标，如粮食综合生产能力、能源综合生产能力、外贸进出口总值及增幅、中国与共建“一带一路”合作伙伴货物贸易额、国际科研合作平台数量、累计参加政府间国际组织、为全球发展提供公共产品的数量与品类、中国军队参加联合国维和行动人次、海外留学生来华留学人次、海外游客来华旅游人次、14—35周岁年轻人平视世界比例、来华高层次人才满意度、新时代国产电影海外票房、中国国际援助海外评价等。通过指标牵引，着力塑造立体全面、开放包容、强大可亲的中国形象，为人的全面发展提供和平稳定的保障。

(This article is a phased result of the National Social Science Fund project "Research on the Realization Path of the Chinese Communist Party's Red Gene Leading Family, Family Education, and Family Traditions")

（本文系国家社科基金项目“中国共产党红色基因引领家庭家教家风的实现路径研究”阶段性成果）

Online editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧