Accelerate the Construction of an Independent Knowledge System for Chinese Philosophy and Social Sciences, Forge a Strategic Leading Force for Building a Strong Education Country

Philosophy and social sciences are important tools for people to understand and transform the world, and are a vital force driving historical development and social progress. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “To accelerate the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, in the final analysis, is to construct China’s independent knowledge system.” [1]1 This quote is from a speech by Xi Jinping during an inspection tour of Renmin University of China on April 25, 2022. The recently issued *Outline for Building a Strong Education Country (2024–2035)* (hereinafter referred to as the *Outline*) explicitly regards the construction of an independent knowledge system for Chinese philosophy and social sciences as a strategic leading force for enhancing the comprehensive strength of higher education, which has important guiding significance for promoting the high-quality development of philosophy and social sciences in universities in the New Era.

哲学社会科学是人们认识世界、改造世界的重要工具，是推动历史发展和社会进步的重要力量。习近平总书记指出：“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。”近日颁布的《教育强国建设规划纲要（2024-2035年）》（以下简称《纲要》）明确把构建中国哲学社会科学自主知识体系作为增强高等教育综合实力的战略引领力量，对推动新时代高校哲学社会科学高质量发展具有重要指导意义。

1. The Important Significance of Constructing an Independent Knowledge System for Chinese Philosophy and Social Sciences

1.构建中国哲学社会科学自主知识体系的重要意义

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to philosophy and social sciences and vigorously promoted their flourishing development.

党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央高度重视哲学社会科学，大力推动哲学社会科学繁荣发展。

Facing changes unseen in a century in the world, China is currently undergoing the most extensive and profound social changes and is also carrying out the most grand and unique practical innovations. On the new journey of comprehensively advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-path modernization, new phenomena and new problems emerge one after another, urgently requiring philosophy and social sciences to provide systematic explanations and powerful responses. Therefore, we must accelerate the construction of the disciplinary system, academic system, and discourse system of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, to condense scientific ideas for summarizing our own development experience and laws, and to explore countermeasures for solving development problems that concern the overall situation and the future; we must accurately grasp the era picture of increasingly fierce international competition, concentrate efforts on promoting the theoretical, localized, and systematic interpretation of philosophy and social sciences, advance cultural confidence and self-strengthening, and thereby form an international discourse power commensurate with our comprehensive national strength and international status; we must cultivate and strengthen the talent team in philosophy and social sciences, develop China’s independent textbook system and curriculum system based on the independent knowledge system, and thereby form China’s independent talent cultivation system, providing strong support for comprehensively building a strong socialist education country with Chinese characteristics.

面对世界百年未有之大变局，当前，我国正经历着最为广泛而深刻的社会变革，也正在进行着最为宏大而独特的实践创新。在以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴的新征程中，新现象新问题层出不穷，亟待哲学社会科学给予系统阐释、给出有力应答。因此，我们必须加快推进中国特色哲学社会科学学科体系、学术体系、话语体系建设，为总结好自身发展经验与规律凝练科学思路，为解决好关乎全局和未来的发展问题探究应对之策；必须准确把握国际竞争日趋激烈的时代图景，聚力推动哲学社会科学的学理化、本土化、体系化阐释，推进文化自信自强，进而形成同我国综合国力和国际地位相匹配的国际话语权；必须培育壮大哲学社会科学人才队伍，以自主知识体系为基础发展中国自主的教材体系和课程体系，进而形成中国自主的人才培养体系，为全面建成中国特色社会主义教育强国提供有力支撑。

2. Universities Have Significant Advantages in Constructing an Independent Knowledge System for Chinese Philosophy and Social Sciences

2.高校在中国哲学社会科学自主知识体系建构中具有显著优势

The leading force in building a strong education country is higher education. As an important force among the “five major armies” [2]2 The “five major armies” refers to the five main sectors engaged in philosophy and social sciences work in China: universities, Party schools (administrative academies), military academies and research institutions, social science academies, and Party and government research institutions. of philosophy and social sciences, universities have irreplaceable advantages in constructing an independent knowledge system for Chinese philosophy and social sciences.

建设教育强国，龙头是高等教育。作为哲学社会科学“五路大军”中的重要力量，高校在中国哲学社会科学自主知识体系建构中的优势不可替代。

First, the advantage in basic research. When inspecting Nankai University, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized, “We must accelerate the construction of world-class universities and first-class disciplines, strengthen basic research, strive to achieve more results in original innovation and independent innovation, and bravely scale the world’s scientific and technological peaks,” which pointed out the direction and provided guidance for promoting knowledge innovation, theoretical innovation, and methodological innovation in philosophy and social sciences. Basic research is the source and living water of the entire scientific system. Universities are the “main force” of the national basic research strategic force and can provide basic support for the construction of the knowledge system of philosophy and social sciences.

一是基础研究优势。习近平总书记视察南开大学时强调，“要加快一流大学和一流学科建设,加强基础研究,力争在原始创新和自主创新上出更多成果,勇攀世界科技高峰”，为推动哲学社会科学知识创新、理论创新、方法创新指明了方向、提供了遵循。基础研究是整个科学体系的源头活水，高校是国家基础研究战略力量的“主力军”，能够为哲学社会科学知识体系的建构提供基础支撑。

Second, the advantage in the disciplinary system. Economic and social development and the progress of human civilization drive the iterative reconstruction of the modern knowledge system. Breaking inherent boundaries and promoting cross-integration is the general trend of disciplinary development. Aiming at major frontier issues, integrating the perspectives and methods of different disciplines, forming entirely new research ideas, frameworks, and paradigms, and thereby advancing the construction and improvement of the independent knowledge system, universities have unique advantages.

二是学科体系优势。经济社会发展和人类文明进步推动着现代知识体系的迭代重构，打破固有边界、促进交叉融合是学科发展的大势所趋。瞄准重大前沿问题，集成不同学科的视域方法，形成全新的研究思路、框架和范式，进而推进自主知识体系的构建与完善，高校具有得天独厚的优势。

Third, the advantage in cooperation and exchange. Universities are windows for promoting international academic exchange, talent interaction, and cultural integration. They can not only connect with advanced international academic ideas and achievements but also promote the global sharing and dissemination of Chinese voices, Chinese theories, and Chinese thought. In creating new concepts, categories, and expressions that integrate Chinese and foreign elements, and in presenting Chinese stories and the ideological and spiritual power behind them more fully and vividly, philosophy and social sciences in universities play an important bridging and linking role.

三是合作交流优势。高校是推动中外学术交流、人才交往、文化交融的窗口，既能联通世界先进的学术理念和成果，又能推动中国声音、中国理论、中国思想的全球共享与传播。打造融通中外的新概念、新范畴、新表述，更加充分、更加鲜明地展现中国故事及其背后的思想力量和精神力量，高校哲学社会科学发挥着重要的桥梁纽带作用。

3. Exploring New Paths for Constructing an Independent Knowledge System for Chinese Philosophy and Social Sciences

3.探索构建中国哲学社会科学自主知识体系的新路径

The *Outline* clarifies the goal of “comprehensively building a strong education country by 2035,” in which the comprehensive establishment of an independent knowledge system for philosophy and social sciences in the education field is crucial. Universities should bravely shoulder the heavy responsibility, take the initiative, adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, uphold the soul and root of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, lead the construction of the “three major systems” [3]3 The “three major systems” refers to the disciplinary system, academic system, and discourse system of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics. of philosophy and social sciences with the Party’s innovative theories, focus on studying the Two Integrations and the principles, theories, and philosophies contained therein, and implement them in the refinement and improvement of iconic concepts and original theories in various disciplines, exploring new ideas, new methods, and new paths for constructing an independent knowledge system for Chinese philosophy and social sciences, thereby consolidating the strategic leading force for building a strong education country.

《纲要》明确了“到2035年全面建成教育强国”的奋斗目标，其中，教育领域哲学社会科学自主知识体系全面建成至关重要。高校理应勇担重任、主动作为，坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，坚守马克思主义中国化时代化的魂脉和根脉，以党的创新理论引领哲学社会科学“三大体系”建设，注重对“两个结合”及其蕴含的道理学理哲理进行研究，并贯彻于各学科标识性概念、原创性理论的提炼与完善，探索构建中国哲学社会科学自主知识体系的新思路、新方法、新路径，夯实建设教育强国的战略引领力量。

First, strengthen fostering virtue through education. “What kind of people to cultivate, how to cultivate them, and for whom to cultivate them” is the fundamental issue of education. Universities must always adhere to the original aspiration and founding mission of educating people for the Party and cultivating talents for the country, unswervingly use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to forge souls and educate people, and cultivate new generations capable of shouldering the great task of national rejuvenation. We must promote the alignment of ideological and political courses with curriculum-based ideological and political education, ensure that ideological and political education and disciplinary frontiers are integrated into textbooks, classrooms, and student practice, and effectively enhance the pertinence and effectiveness of ideological and political education. Leverage the unique function of philosophy and social sciences in ideological guidance and cultural shaping, strengthen patriotic education and ideal and belief education in the New Era, guide young students to cultivate patriotic feelings, enhance humanistic literacy, and forge moral character, providing a fundamental guarantee for the flourishing development of philosophy and social sciences.

一是强化立德树人。“培养什么人、怎样培养人、为谁培养人”是教育的根本问题。高校必须始终坚守为党育人、为国育才的初心使命，坚持不懈用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想铸魂育人，培养担当民族复兴大任的时代新人。要推动思政课程与课程思政同向同行，确保思政教育与学科前沿融入教材、融入课堂、融入学生实践，切实增强思政教育的针对性、实效性。发挥哲学社会科学独有的思想引领和文化塑造功能，强化新时代爱国主义教育和理想信念教育，引导青年学生厚植爱国情怀、提升人文素养、陶铸道德品质，为哲学社会科学的繁荣发展提供根本保证。

Second, strengthen independent cultivation. Talent is the driving force for scientific development. To construct an independent knowledge system, we must enhance the ability for independent talent cultivation from the root and increase the scale and level of the talent team. We should take the construction of new liberal arts [4]4 “New liberal arts” is a reform initiative in Chinese higher education that aims to break down disciplinary silos, integrate humanities with science and technology, and modernize liberal arts education to meet contemporary needs. as a key lever, driven by technological development and national strategic needs, promote the development of emerging and interdisciplinary disciplines, and upgrade the disciplinary and professional system. Implement the requirements of the “Decision” of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC, such as “deepening comprehensive reform in education” and “strengthening the synergy between science and technology education and humanities education,” [5]5 This refers to the “Decision of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform and Promoting Chinese-style Modernization,” adopted at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee in July 2024. through measures such as launching characteristic talent cultivation projects for new liberal arts, establishing supernormal selection and cultivation mechanisms for top-notch innovative talents, and exploring the empowerment of liberal arts talent cultivation by digital technology, especially artificial intelligence, to continuously improve the quality of independent talent cultivation and promote the renewal of liberal arts education concepts and innovation in cultivation models.

二是强化自主培养。人才是科学发展的原动力，构建自主知识体系，必须从根源上增强人才自主培养能力，提升人才队伍规模和水平。要将新文科建设作为关键抓手，以科技发展、国家战略需求为牵引，推进新兴学科、交叉学科发展，推动学科专业体系升级。落实党的二十届三中全会《决定》提出的“深化教育综合改革”“强化科技教育和人文教育协同”等要求，通过开展新文科特色人才培养项目、建立拔尖创新人才超常规遴选培养机制、探索数字技术特别是人工智能赋能文科人才培养等举措，促进人才自主培养质量不断跃升，推动文科教育理念更新、培养模式创新。

Third, strengthen theoretical innovation. The key to constructing an independent knowledge system for Chinese philosophy and social sciences lies in taking root in Chinese soil and innovating China’s independent concepts, theories, and methods. We must strengthen organized scientific research, adhere to taking Chinese practice and Chinese problems as the starting point and foothold, systematically summarize the practical experience of Chinese-path modernization, discover new problems from it, condense new viewpoints, propose new concepts, and construct new theories. Continuously innovate research ideas and practical methods that meet the needs of the times, enrich and condense the theoretical system and contemporary connotation of Chinese-path modernization in the process of solving real problems and truly solving problems, providing the richest and most effective source of living water for the construction of the independent knowledge system.

三是强化理论创新。构建中国哲学社会科学自主知识体系，重点在于扎根中国大地、对中国自主的概念、理论和方法进行创新。要强化有组织科研，坚持以中国实践、中国问题为出发点和落脚点，系统总结中国式现代化建设实践经验，从中发现新问题、凝练新观点、提出新概念、构建新理论。持续创新适应时代发展需要的研究思路和实践方法，在解决真问题、真解决问题的过程中，丰富和凝练中国式现代化的理论体系与时代内涵，为自主知识体系建构提供最丰富、最有效的源头活水。

Fourth, strengthen policy advising and enlightening the people. Philosophy and social sciences play a crucial role in serving the governance of the country. Conducting high-level policy research and constructing an independent knowledge system mutually promote and empower each other. In recent years, the Ministry of Education has implemented projects to construct the knowledge system of philosophy and social sciences and enhance the policy advisory service capacity of universities, which is an important manifestation of the emphasis on the role of university think tanks. Universities should adhere to a demand-oriented and problem-oriented approach, accelerate the pace of building new types of university think tanks with Chinese characteristics, concentrate efforts on conducting responsible, valuable, and forward-looking policy research, and assist the country in coping with complex situations and solving practical problems. Through think tank research, we must gain insight into the essence and laws of problems, so that high-level think tank research can better serve the construction of the independent knowledge system, thereby forming a scientific and complete knowledge system in areas such as Chinese-path modernization, the inheritance and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture, the common values of all mankind, and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

四是强化咨政启民。哲学社会科学在服务治国理政中发挥着至关重要的作用，开展高水平咨政研究与构建自主知识体系相互促进、双向赋能。近年来，教育部实施哲学社会科学知识体系建构和高校咨政服务能力提升工程，正是重视发挥高校智库作用的重要体现。高校要坚持需求导向、问题导向，加快中国特色新型高校智库建设步伐，集中力量开展负责任、有价值、前瞻性的咨政研究，助力国家应对复杂局面、解决现实问题。要透过智库研究洞察问题的本质和规律，使高水平智库研究更好服务于自主知识体系建设，从而在中国式现代化发展、中华优秀传统文化传承创新、全人类共同价值和人类命运共同体构建等方面形成科学完备的知识体系。

Fifth, strengthen strategic communication. Philosophy and social sciences must further refine and showcase the cultural genes and spiritual symbols of Chinese civilization, identify commonalities and universality with other countries worldwide, and on this basis construct new expressions and new discourses that integrate China and the foreign, thereby enhancing the international communication efficacy of the independent knowledge system of Chinese philosophy and social sciences. It is necessary to promote the elevation of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics from solving China’s problems to solving global common problems, contributing Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions that can be articulated, stand firm, and be widely disseminated to the global knowledge system, so that philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics can truly stand tall in the world’s academic forest through participation in global educational governance and cultural exchange and mutual learning.

五是强化战略传播。哲学社会科学要进一步提炼展示中华文明的文化基因和精神标识，找到与世界各国的共通性、普遍性，在此基础上构建融通中外的新表达、新话语，增强中国哲学社会科学自主知识体系的国际传播效能。要推动中国特色哲学社会科学从解决中国问题上升到解决全球共性问题，为全球知识体系贡献说得出、立得住、传得开的中国智慧、中国方案，使中国特色哲学社会科学在参与全球教育治理和文化交流互鉴中真正屹立于世界学术之林。

(Author: Chen Yulu, President of Nankai University)

（作者：陈雨露，系南开大学校长）

Online Editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧