Adhering to a Problem-Oriented Approach Is the Theoretical Characteristic of Deng Xiaoping’s Philosophical Thought

Adhering to a problem-oriented approach is a distinctive feature of Marxism. At the symposium commemorating the 120th anniversary of Comrade Deng Xiaoping’s birth, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Deng Xiaoping Theory profoundly answered

坚持问题导向是马克思主义的鲜明特点。在纪念邓小平同志诞辰120周年座谈会上，习近平总书记指出：“邓小平理论深刻回答了什么是社会主义、怎样建设社会主义这一根本问题，深刻揭示社会主义本质，为我国改革开放和社会主义现代化建设提供了行动指南，是中国特色社会主义理论体系的奠基之作。”这是对邓小平伟大贡献的重要评价，从中可以看到坚持问题导向的关键作用。

Grasping Problems: The Logical Starting Point of the Development of Deng Xiaoping’s Philosophical Thought

抓住问题：邓小平哲学思想发展的逻辑起点

During the period of reform and opening up, Deng Xiaoping confronted the problems that emerged in the course of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. He neither evaded them nor shied away from tough issues. Applying materialist dialectics, he grasped the crux of problems, thereby laying the foundation for further theoretical exploration of how to resolve them and for thoroughly solving these problems in practice.

在改革开放时期，邓小平直面中国特色社会主义建设发展中出现的问题，不回避、敢碰硬，运用唯物辩证法抓住问题要害，为进一步从理论上探究如何破解问题并在实践中彻底解决这些问题奠定了基础。

First, the key to grasping problems lies in grasping major problems. In Deng Xiaoping’s view, vigorously developing the economy and raising the people’s living standards were the major problems that required constant attention. In 1980, when formulating the Sixth Five-Year Plan, Deng Xiaoping clearly stated: “The biggest problem is to consider matters from the perspective of improving economic results and increasing the people’s income; long-term planning should be made in this spirit.” [1]1 Xi Jinping, “Explanatory Notes on the ‘Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party’s Century-Long Struggle’,” *Qiushi*, no. 23 (2021). Second, grasping problems also requires “putting daring first.” One must dare to expose shortcomings and weaknesses, dare to acknowledge the existence of problems, and especially dare to admit backwardness. Deng Xiaoping emphatically stressed: “Only by recognizing backwardness can we change it.” [2] When encountering tough nuts to crack or intractable problems, one must not circumvent them, hide from them, or even turn a blind eye; one must dare to face problems directly. Therefore, Deng Xiaoping warned people: “There are quite a few problems now, and to solve them, we must have drive. We must put daring first and make up our minds.” [3] Finally, grasping problems requires guidance from correct methods. Deng Xiaoping flexibly applied the materialist dialectical principle of grasping the principal contradiction to the process of grasping problems. At the beginning of reform and opening up, the country had accumulated too many problems. In response, Deng Xiaoping proposed carrying out comprehensive rectification across all industries and sectors: “At present, there is a problem of rectification in all aspects. Agriculture needs rectification, industry needs rectification, and cultural policy needs adjustment; adjustment is in fact also rectification.” [4] Faced with numerous problems and a myriad of details, it was easy to “grab at eyebrows and beards all at once.” [5] Deng Xiaoping insisted on grasping the principal contradiction, which was “the rectification of leading bodies.” [6] Only by grasping this principal contradiction could the situation be fundamentally changed. He often said, “We must find from the pile of problems those things that provide long-term, fundamental solutions,” [7] and “We must grasp the vital point and the crux of the problems.” [8] “These important ideas and judgments are full of materialist dialectics, embody a holistic perspective and strategic vision, grasp the principal contradiction and the principal aspect of the contradiction, and manifest the distinctive style and unique charm of Deng Xiaoping Theory.” [9]

首先，抓住问题关键是要抓住重大问题。在邓小平眼中，大力发展经济、提高人民群众的生活水平，就是需要始终关注的重大问题。1980年在制定“六五计划”时，邓小平明确指出：“最大的问题就是要从提高经济效果、增加人民收入方面考虑问题，要按这个精神搞长期规划。”其次，抓住问题还要“敢字当头”。要敢于揭开短处与短板，敢于承认问题的存在，特别是敢于承认落后。邓小平明确强调：“认识落后，才能去改变落后。”遇到难啃的骨头、难缠的问题，不能绕，不能躲，更不能视而不见，要敢于直面问题。因此，邓小平告诫人们：“现在问题相当多，要解决，没有一股劲不行。要敢字当头，横下一条心。”最后，抓住问题要有正确方法的指导。邓小平将唯物辩证法关于抓住主要矛盾的原理灵活应用于抓住问题的过程中。改革开放之初，国家积聚了太多的问题，对此，邓小平提出要对各行各业实行全面整顿：“当前，各方面都存在一个整顿的问题。农业要整顿，工业要整顿，文艺政策要调整，调整其实也是整顿。”面对诸多问题，千头万绪，很容易“眉毛胡子一把抓”，邓小平坚持抓住主要矛盾，这个主要矛盾就是“领导班子的整顿”。只有抓住这个主要矛盾，才能从根本上改变局面。他经常讲，“要从问题堆里找长远的、根本解决问题的东西”，“有些什么问题，要真正抓到要害上，抓到点子上”。“这些重要思想和论断充满唯物辩证法，体现了全局视野和战略眼光，抓住了事物的主要矛盾和矛盾的主要方面，彰显了邓小平理论的鲜明风格和独特魅力。”

General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “We must have a strong problem consciousness, take major problems as the orientation, grasp major problems and key problems for further research and reflection, find answers, and make every effort to promote the resolution of a series of prominent contradictions and problems facing our country’s development.” [10] This emphatically highlights that grasping problems is the logical starting point of ideological development. Deng Xiaoping’s philosophical thought unfolds precisely with grasping problems as its logical starting point.

习近平总书记指出：“要有强烈的问题意识，以重大问题为导向，抓住重大问题、关键问题进一步研究思考，找出答案，着力推动解决我国发展面临的一系列突出矛盾和问题。”这突出强调了抓住问题是思想发展的逻辑起点。邓小平哲学思想正是以抓住问题作为逻辑起点而展开的。

Studying Problems: The Source of Innovation in Deng Xiaoping’s Philosophical Thought

研究问题：邓小平哲学思想的创新源泉

In Deng Xiaoping’s view, merely discovering problems is far from sufficient; what is more important is to earnestly study problems and seek solutions to them. The great taboo in studying problems is ossification of thought. How to break through ossification of thought? On the basis of Mao Zedong’s “seeking truth from facts,” Deng Xiaoping put forward the historically significant concept of “emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts.” “Only by emancipating the mind, adhering to seeking truth from facts, proceeding from reality in everything, and integrating theory with practice can our socialist modernization proceed smoothly and can our Party’s theories of Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought develop smoothly.” [11]

在邓小平看来，仅仅发现问题是远远不够的，更重要的是认真研究问题、寻求解决问题的方案。研究问题的大忌就是思想僵化。怎样打破思想僵化？邓小平在毛泽东提出的“实事求是”基础上提出了具有深远历史意义的“解放思想、实事求是”。“只有解放思想，坚持实事求是，一切从实际出发，理论联系实际，我们的社会主义现代化建设才能顺利进行，我们党的马列主义、毛泽东思想的理论也才能顺利发展。”

In Deng Xiaoping’s view, emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts are internally unified. The foundation of emancipating the mind is seeking truth from facts. To achieve emancipation of the mind, one must proceed from reality in everything and break through rigid conventions. Therefore, emancipating the mind is the prerequisite for breaking through ossification of thought and studying problems. In December 1978, at the closing session of the Central Work Conference of the CPC Central Committee, Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “Only when our minds are emancipated can we, under the correct guidance of Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, solve the problems left over from the past and solve a series of new problems that have emerged.” [12] In 1980, at the Fifth Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the CPC, Deng Xiaoping further pointed out: “When we talk about emancipating the mind, we mean breaking free from the shackles of habitual forces and subjective prejudices under the guidance of Marxism, studying new situations, and solving new problems.” [13] Thus, it can be seen that there is a dialectically unified relationship between emancipating the mind and studying problems: emancipating the mind is the prerequisite for studying new situations and solving new problems, while studying new situations and solving new problems is the purpose of emancipating the mind.

在邓小平看来，解放思想与实事求是二者是内在统一的。解放思想的基础是实事求是。要做到解放思想，就要一切从实际出发，打破条条框框。因此，解放思想是打破思想僵化、研究问题的前提。1978年12月，邓小平在中共中央工作会议闭幕会上指出：“只有思想解放了，我们才能正确地以马列主义、毛泽东思想为指导，解决过去遗留的问题，解决新出现的一系列问题。”1980年，在党的十一届五中全会上邓小平又进一步指出：“我们讲解放思想，是指在马克思主义指导下打破习惯势力和主观偏见的束缚，研究新情况，解决新问题。”由此可见，解放思想与研究问题之间是辩证统一的关系，解放思想是研究新情况解决新问题的前提，研究新情况解决新问题是解放思想的目的。

Marxist epistemology holds that the task of scientific theoretical research is to recognize the essence through phenomena. Only by studying a large number of phenomena can people discover the essence of things and achieve scientific understanding. It was precisely after carefully studying various complex and confusing problem phenomena that Deng Xiaoping grasped the essence hidden behind them. He proposed that the mistakes and setbacks in the process of socialist construction after the founding of New China, and the various problems that arose, were ultimately because we had not clearly understood the essential question of “what is socialism and how to build socialism.” Therefore, it was necessary to conduct systematic research and scientifically answer this theoretical challenge. In 1985, when meeting with Tanzanian Vice President Ali Hassan Mwinyi, Deng Xiaoping pointed out: “We Marxists, when we made revolution in the past, fought for the lofty ideals of socialism and communism. Now that we are engaged in economic reform, we must still adhere to the socialist road and uphold the lofty ideal of communism. The younger generation, in particular, must understand this. But the question is what is socialism and how to build socialism. We have many experiences and lessons, and the most important one is to get this question clear.” [14] Deng Xiaoping hit the nail on the head by grasping the essential

马克思主义的认识论认为，科学理论研究的任务就是透过现象去认识本质，人们只有通过对大量现象的研究，才能发现事情的本质，达到科学的认识。邓小平正是在仔细研究了种种纷繁复杂的问题现象后，把握住了隐藏在问题现象背后的本质。他提出，新中国成立后，我们在社会主义建设过程中出现的失误与挫折、产生的各种问题，归根结底是因为我们没有搞清楚“什么是社会主义，怎样建设社会主义”这一本质问题。因此，必须加以系统研究，科学地回答这一理论难题。1985年，邓小平在会见坦桑尼亚副总统姆维尼时指出：“我们马克思主义者过去闹革命，就是为社会主义、共产主义崇高理想而奋斗。现在我们搞经济改革，仍然要坚持社会主义道路，坚持共产主义的远大理想，年轻一代尤其要懂得这一点。但问题是什么是社会主义，如何建设社会主义。我们的经验教训有许多条，最重要的一条，就是要搞清楚这个问题。”邓小平一针见血地抓住了问题现象背后的本质问题。

General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “The starting point of theoretical thinking determines the outcome of theoretical innovation. Theoretical innovation can only begin from problems. In a certain sense, the process of theoretical innovation is precisely the process of discovering problems, screening problems, studying problems, and solving problems.” [1]1 Xi Jinping, “Explanatory Notes on the ‘Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party’s Century-Long Struggle’,” *Qiushi*, no. 23 (2021). In General Secretary Xi Jinping’s view, the path of theoretical innovation is to discover, screen, study, and solve problems. It is precisely by cutting into problems and advancing the study and resolution of problems that Deng Xiaoping’s philosophical thought achieved innovative development in theory.

习近平总书记指出：“理论思维的起点决定着理论创新的结果。理论创新只能从问题开始。从某种意义上说，理论创新的过程就是发现问题、筛选问题、研究问题、解决问题的过程。”在习近平总书记看来，理论创新的路径是发现、筛选、研究和解决问题。邓小平哲学思想正是从问题切入并推进问题的研究和解决，从而实现了理论上的创新性发展。

Solving problems: the driving force for the development of Deng Xiaoping’s philosophical thought

解决问题：邓小平哲学思想的发展动力

In Deng Xiaoping’s view, the purpose of discovering and raising problems, as well as analyzing and studying them, is to solve the practical problems encountered in China’s socialist construction, especially to resolve the various new problems that arise in the process of exploring the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Therefore, he clearly stated: “We hold meetings, make reports, adopt resolutions, and do any work, all for the sake of solving problems.” [1]1 Xi Jinping, “Explanatory Notes on the ‘Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party’s Century-Long Struggle’,” *Qiushi*, no. 23 (2021). In solving problems, Deng Xiaoping did not believe that one could achieve a permanent

在邓小平看来，发现提出问题、分析研究问题的目的是要解决中国在社会主义建设中遇到的实际问题，特别是解决在探索中国特色社会主义道路过程中出现的各种新问题。因此，他明确指出：“我们开会，作报告，作决议，以及做任何工作，都为的是解决问题。”在解决问题上，邓小平并不认为可以一劳永逸，他总强调：“我们要不断研究新情况、解决新问题、寻找新办法、制定新制度，使整个国家的各种体制越来越完善，保证社会主义现代化建设能够顺利进行。”在解决问题的过程中，邓小平全面系统地运用马克思主义哲学的基本原理。这种围绕问题而展开的运用，最终形成了以问题为导向、有着鲜明“应用哲学”特征的理论。因此，与纯粹的书斋里的理论性成果不同，邓小平哲学思想被赞誉为“应用哲学”，是问题性、应用性和哲理性的综合统一。应该说，邓小平的“应用哲学”，是以解决问题作为主要使命的。作为中国社会主义改革开放和现代化建设的总设计师，一方面，邓小平将马克思主义哲学的基本原理创造性地应用于实践中，成功地解决了中国特色社会主义实践中出现的各种问题；另一方面，正是在解决问题的过程中，新理念新思路新办法层出不穷地涌现，邓小平哲学思想获得了强大的发展推动力。

Adhering to a problem-oriented approach is a distinctive feature of Deng Xiaoping's philosophical thought. As General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out, "The source of a theory can only be the rich and vivid reality of life, and its driving force can only be the practical need to resolve social contradictions and problems." Deng Xiaoping's philosophical thought is closely centered on problems, which is an important manifestation of placing the driving force of theoretical development within "the practical need to resolve social contradictions and problems."

坚持问题导向是邓小平哲学思想的鲜明特色。正如习近平总书记所指出的：“一种理论的产生，源泉只能是丰富生动的现实生活，动力只能是解决社会矛盾和问题的现实要求。”邓小平哲学思想紧紧围绕问题展开，正是将理论发展的动力置于“解决社会矛盾和问题的现实要求”之中的重要体现。

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