Exploring the Essence and Laws of Ideological and Political Theory Courses

Marx’s thought on technology provides the fundamental guidance for scientifically understanding the essential attributes and socio-historical effects of artificial intelligence, and for correctly handling the relationship between AI and ideological and political education. As a key driving force and strategic technology of the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, AI profoundly affects the triple socio-historical relationships between humans and nature, between humans and humans, and between humans and themselves, and gradually evolves into a unity of “technical means,” “infrastructure,” and “civilization marker.” For ideological and political education, AI embeds itself as an endogenous force, influencing the foundational basis, basic contradictions, and practical forms of ideological and political education. Promoting the deep integration of AI and ideological and political education is an inherent requirement and rational choice to follow the laws of technological change and to escape the paradox of technological tools and the danger of technological domination. This integration deeply contains the symbiotic relationship and interactive logic of “technology–ideological and political education,” concentratedly manifested as two interconnected and mutually reinforcing processes and mechanisms: “the ideologization and politicization of AI” and “the AI-ization of ideological and political education.”

马克思工艺学思想为科学认识人工智能的本质属性和社会历史效应，正确处理人工智能与思想政治教育关系提供了根本遵循。人工智能作为新一轮科技革命和产业变革的重要驱动力和战略性技术，深刻影响人和自然、人和人、人和自身三重社会历史关系，并逐步演化为“技术手段”“基础设施”“文明标识”的统一体。对思想政治教育来说，人工智能作为一种内生性力量嵌入并影响思想政治教育的发生基础、基本矛盾和实践形态。推动人工智能与思想政治教育深度融合，是遵循工艺学变革规律，摆脱技术工具悖论与技术宰制之虞的内在要求和理性选择。这种融合深层蕴含着“技术—思政”的共生关系和互动逻辑，集中表现为“人工智能思政化”与“思政人工智能化”两个相互连接、相辅相成的过程和机制。

School ideological and political theory courses (hereinafter referred to as “ideological and political courses”) are a noble undertaking of “forging souls and educating people,” an important practical activity engaged in and devoted to by tens of thousands of teachers in our country. Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era contains a wealth of important discourses on the construction of ideological and political courses. Scientific theory is a theory that reveals the essence and laws of things and guides practice with law-based understanding. Promoting the systematization and theorization of the theoretical system of ideological and political course construction is a task of significant theoretical and practical importance, which can be explored from different angles. As an attempt to promote the systematization and theorization of the theoretical system of ideological and political course construction, this article, in conjunction with the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s relevant important discourses, explores the essence and laws of ideological and political courses.

学校思想政治理论课（以下简称“思政课”）是“铸魂育人”的崇高事业，是我国数以万计的教师正在从事的、并为之献身的重要实践活动。习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想包含着丰富的有关思政课建设的重要论述。科学理论是揭示事物本质和规律、用规律性认识指导实践的理论。推进思政课建设理论体系化学理化，是一项具有重要理论意义和实践意义的工作，可以从不同角度去探讨。作为推进思政课建设理论体系化学理化的一种尝试，本文结合习近平总书记相关重要论述精神，探求思政课的本质和规律。

I. The Essence of Ideological and Political Courses Is to Explain Principles

一、思政课的本质是讲道理

On April 25, 2022, when inspecting Renmin University of China, Xi Jinping pointed out, “The essence of ideological and political courses is to explain principles,” and that principles must be “explained deeply, thoroughly, and vividly.” On May 4, 2024, in his important instructions on the construction of school ideological and political courses, Xi Jinping again emphasized, “explain principles deeply, thoroughly, and vividly.” These important judgments indicate the essence of ideological and political courses.

2022年4月25日，习近平在中国人民大学考察时指出，“思政课的本质是讲道理”，要“把道理讲深、讲透、讲活”。2024年5月4日，习近平在对学校思政课建设作出的重要指示中再次强调，“把道理讲深讲透讲活”。这些重要论断指明了思政课的本质。

First, ideological and political courses are in essence theoretical courses. The “principles” in “the essence of ideological and political courses is to explain principles” are theory. The full name of “ideological and political courses,” “school ideological and political theory courses,” already expresses the meaning of explaining theory. Xi Jinping pointed out that ideological and political courses must “achieve the unity of knowledge, emotion, intention, and action.” Knowledge is cognition and understanding; emotion is feeling and sentiment; intention is will and volition. Human consciousness includes knowledge, emotion, and intention. Ideological and political course teaching is work in the ideological sphere, a task of cultivating people that influences and changes people’s social consciousness. Ideological work must both convince with reason and move with emotion, and also help people establish intentions and temper will. Its content is rich and its forms diverse, including theoretical research and education, news and publishing, literary and artistic work, each with its own characteristics and methods, all capable of influencing people’s knowledge, emotion, and intention, yet each with its own emphasis. As the main channel and main front of ideological and political education, ideological and political courses must balance knowledge, emotion, and intention, unifying these three aspects, but their main task is to explain principles, to convince with reason, and they are in essence a kind of theoretical education work. Xi Jinping said: “Theory is the cornerstone of ideology. The deeper theoretical research is, the stronger and more powerful the support for ideology becomes.” The knowledge, emotion, and intention in human consciousness are interconnected and mutually influential. The formation of emotion and will cannot be separated from cognition; they arise and develop on the basis of certain cognition. The unity of knowledge, emotion, and intention that ideological and political courses seek to achieve is a unity based on explaining principles. Only by grasping the fundamental of “explaining principles,” and explaining principles deeply, thoroughly, and vividly, can ideological and political course teaching play a strong and powerful supporting role, achieve the unity of knowledge, emotion, and intention, and embody the essence of ideological and political courses. Ideological and political courses should have rich and colorful content and lively forms, can utilize advanced technological means, and draw on historical materials, typical cases, and artistic achievements to enhance their appeal and attractiveness, but all of this should revolve around “explaining principles” and serve “explaining principles.” If one forgets that ideological and political courses are theoretical courses and pursues form or a momentary lively on-site effect while departing from the purpose of “explaining principles,” it will lead to form detaching from content, the guest overwhelming the host, and deviating from the essence of ideological and political courses.

第一，思政课本质上是理论课。“思政课的本质是讲道理”中的“道理”，就是理论。“思政课”的全称“学校思想政治理论课”已经表达了要讲理论的含义。习近平指出，思政课要“实现知、情、意、行的统一”。知，是知识、认识；情，是情绪、情感；意，是意愿、意志。人的意识包括知、情、意。思政课教学是意识形态领域的工作，是影响和改变人们社会意识的培养人的工作。意识形态工作既要晓之以理，又要动之以情，还要帮助人们确定意向、锤炼意志。其内容丰富、形式多样，包括理论研究和教育、新闻出版、文学艺术工作等，各有其特点和方式，都可以影响人的知、情、意，同时又各有侧重。思政课作为思想政治教育的主渠道、主阵地，要兼顾知、情、意，把三方面统一起来，但主要任务是讲道理，是晓之以理，本质上是一种理论教育工作。习近平说：“理论是意识形态的基石。理论研究越深入，对意识形态的支撑就越坚强有力。”人的意识中的知、情、意是彼此关联、相互影响的。情感、意志的形成离不开认识，是在一定认识的基础上产生和发展的。思政课要实现的知、情、意的统一，是以讲道理为基础的统一。思政课教学只有抓住“讲道理”这个根本，把道理讲深、讲透、讲活，才能发挥坚强有力的支撑作用，实现知、情、意相统一，体现思政课的本质。思政课应该内容丰富多彩、形式生动活泼，可以运用先进的科技手段，诉诸历史资料、典型案例、艺术成果，以增强其感染力和吸引力，但所有这些都应该围绕着“讲道理”展开，服务于“讲道理”。如果忘记了思政课是理论课，离开“讲道理”的目的去追求形式，追求一时热闹的现场效果，就会导致形式脱离内容、喧宾夺主，偏离思政课的本质。

Second, ideological and political courses are in essence Marxist theoretical education courses. There are many principles or theories in the world. The “principles” in “the essence of ideological and political courses is to explain principles” are, fundamentally, Marxist theory. The essence of ideological and political courses lies in their being Marxist theoretical education courses.

第二，思政课本质上是马克思主义理论教育课。世界上的道理或理论有很多，“思政课的本质是讲道理”中的“道理”，从根本上说，是马克思主义理论。思政课的本质就在于它是马克思主义理论教育课。

The construction of ideological and political courses is part of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics led by the Communist Party of China. What the essence of ideological and political courses is must be considered within this overall situation. On March 18, 2019, at the Symposium for Teachers of Ideological and Political Theory Courses in Schools, Xi Jinping pointed out: “To run ideological and political courses well, we must view them in the context of changes unseen in a century and the overall development of the Party and the state’s cause, and treat them from the height of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, building a modern socialist power, and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” From such an overall situation and height, Xi Jinping clearly positioned ideological and political courses, stating that “ideological and political courses are the key courses for implementing the fundamental task of fostering virtue and nurturing people,” and “an important guarantee for cultivating generation after generation of socialist builders and successors.” He emphasized: “Our Party is committed to the millennia-long cause of the Chinese nation; it must cultivate generation after generation of useful talents who support the leadership of the Communist Party of China and our socialist system, and are determined to strive for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics throughout their lives.” This determines that “to run ideological and political courses well is to carry out Marxist theoretical education, using the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to forge souls and educate people.” The positioning of ideological and political courses in the overall development of the Party and the state’s cause determines that the “principles” they are to explain are, fundamentally, Marxist theory.

思政课建设是中国共产党领导的中国特色社会主义事业的一部分。思政课的本质是什么，要放在这个全局中来思考。2019年3月18日，习近平在学校思想政治理论课教师座谈会上指出：“办好思政课，要放在世界百年未有之大变局、党和国家事业发展全局中来看待，要从坚持和发展中国特色社会主义、建设社会主义现代化强国、实现中华民族伟大复兴的高度来对待。”习近平从这样的全局和高度对思政课作出明确定位，指出“思政课是落实立德树人根本任务的关键课程”，“是培养一代又一代社会主义建设者和接班人的重要保障”。他强调：“我们党立志于中华民族千秋伟业，必须培养一代又一代拥护中国共产党领导和我国社会主义制度、立志为中国特色社会主义事业奋斗终身的有用人才。”这就决定了，“办好思政课，就是要开展马克思主义理论教育，用新时代中国特色社会主义思想铸魂育人”。思政课在党和国家事业发展全局中的定位决定了它所要讲的“道理”，从根本上说是马克思主义理论。

Regarding this, we can further delve into “why ideological and political courses are in essence Marxist theoretical education courses.” First, that ideological and political courses are in essence Marxist theoretical education courses is determined by the guiding position of Marxism in our Party and country. Xi Jinping pointed out: “Our country is a socialist country led by the Communist Party of China, which determines that our education must take cultivating socialist builders and successors as its fundamental task.” The “Marxism” that ideological and political courses are to disseminate is a general term, including Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of the “Three Represents,” the Scientific Outlook on Development, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, all clearly stipulated as the Party’s guiding ideology in the Constitution of the Communist Party of China. Among these, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the latest achievement in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, the Marxism of contemporary China and the Marxism of the twenty-first century. Xi Jinping pointed out: “Marxism is the root of the towering tree of the ever-developing cause of our Party and people, and the source of the long river of our Party and people’s continuous progress.” Xi Jinping emphasized in the report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC: “Why the Communist Party of China can succeed and why socialism with Chinese characteristics can work is, in the final analysis, because Marxism works, and because the Sinicized and modernized Marxism works.” Marxism is the fundamental guiding ideology for our Party to establish the Party and the country, and to rejuvenate the Party and the country. For ideological and political courses to cultivate builders and successors for the Party and the country, they must take disseminating the Party’s and the country’s guiding ideology as their fundamental task.

对此，还可以进一步深究“为什么思政课本质上是马克思主义理论教育课”。其一，思政课本质上是马克思主义理论教育课，是由马克思主义在我们党和国家中的指导地位决定的。习近平指出：“我国是中国共产党领导的社会主义国家，这就决定了我们的教育必须把培养社会主义建设者和接班人作为根本任务”。思政课所要传播的“马克思主义”是一个总称，包括《中国共产党章程》明确规定的作为党的指导思想的马克思列宁主义和毛泽东思想、邓小平理论、“三个代表”重要思想、科学发展观、习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想。其中，习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想是马克思主义中国化时代化的最新成果，是当代中国马克思主义、二十一世纪马克思主义。习近平指出：“马克思主义就是我们党和人民事业不断发展的参天大树之根本，就是我们党和人民不断奋进的万里长河之泉源。”习近平在党的二十大报告中强调：“中国共产党为什么能，中国特色社会主义为什么好，归根到底是马克思主义行，是中国化时代化的马克思主义行。”马克思主义是我们立党立国、兴党兴国的根本指导思想。思政课要为党和国家培养建设者和接班人，就要把传播党和国家的指导思想作为根本任务。

Second, the ideological and political theory course is in essence a course in Marxist theoretical education, which is determined by the fundamental nature that distinguishes Marxism from other ideologies and theories. Various kinds of reasoning and theory emerged and developed as humanity entered the era of civilization. Speaking of reasoning and studying theory, there is not only Marxist theory, but also various non-Marxist theories that arose before and after the emergence of Marxism, especially the theories within fine traditional Chinese culture, as well as the positive achievements of foreign philosophy and social sciences. To deeply understand the essence of the ideological and political theory course, one must grasp the relationship between Marxist theory and other theories. Before the birth of Marxism, due to the limitations of historical conditions, idealist conceptions of history held sway in the field of theories concerning social history, and a scientific worldview and historical outlook could not emerge. Marx created the materialist conception of history, achieving a fundamental transformation in the view of history, which enabled humanity's understanding of social history to become scientific. Xi Jinping summarized the fundamental nature of Marxism as a "scientific theory," a "theory of the people," a "practical theory," and a "constantly developing and open theory," all of which are excellent qualities unique to Marxism and absent in other theories. Therefore, "this theory, like a magnificent sunrise, illuminated the path for humanity to explore the laws of history and seek its own liberation." [2]2 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Ceremony Commemorating the Bicentenary of the Birth of Karl Marx" (May 4, 2018). Moreover, Marxism adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, as the result of integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and with fine traditional Chinese culture, possesses all the excellent qualities of Marxism—scientific, people-centered, practical, and open—while also being nourished by the practical experience of the Chinese people and fine traditional Chinese culture, taking root in Chinese soil and becoming the essence of the times for Chinese culture and the Chinese spirit. Therefore, only Marxist theory has profoundly changed China, and only Marxist theory can lay a scientific ideological foundation for students' lifelong growth. Xi Jinping emphasized at the National Conference on Ideological and Political Work in Colleges and Universities held in December 2016: "We must unremittingly disseminate the scientific theory of Marxism, do a good job of Marxist theoretical education, and lay a scientific ideological foundation for students' lifelong growth." [3]3 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the National Conference on Ideological and Political Work in Colleges and Universities" (December 7-8, 2016). Of course, students cannot only study Marxist theory. As Lenin pointed out: "Only by understanding all the wealth created by humanity to enrich one's mind can one become a Communist." [4]4 V. I. Lenin, "The Tasks of the Youth Leagues" (October 2, 1920). However, without Marxist theory, one cannot establish a firm and correct political direction, cultivate a scientific worldview, outlook on life, and value system, nor can one correctly analyze and treat other ideologies and theories. Therefore, the essential requirement of the ideological and political theory course is to help students learn Marxist theory well.

其二，思政课本质上是马克思主义理论教育课，是由马克思主义区别于其他思想、理论的根本性质决定的。各种道理、理论，是随着人类进入文明时代而产生和发展起来的。讲道理、学理论，不是只有马克思主义理论，还有马克思主义产生之前和产生之后的各种非马克思主义的理论，尤其是中华优秀传统文化中的理论，还有国外哲学社会科学的积极成果。深入理解思政课的本质，要弄懂马克思主义理论与其他理论之间的关系。在马克思主义诞生之前，由于历史条件的限制，在关于社会历史的理论领域，唯心主义历史观占据统治地位，科学的世界观、历史观未能产生。马克思创立了唯物主义历史观，实现了历史观上的根本变革，才使人类对社会历史的认识成为科学。习近平把马克思主义的根本性质概括为“科学的理论”“人民的理论”“实践的理论”“不断发展的开放的理论”，这些都是马克思主义所特有而其他理论不具备的优秀品质。所以“这一理论犹如壮丽的日出，照亮了人类探索历史规律和寻求自身解放的道路”。而中国化时代化的马克思主义作为马克思主义基本原理同中国具体实际相结合、同中华优秀传统文化相结合的成果，既具备马克思主义的科学性、人民性、实践性、开放性等一切优秀品质，又获得了中国人民的实践经验和中华优秀传统文化的滋养，扎根中国大地，成为中华文化和中国精神的时代精华。所以只有马克思主义理论才深刻改变了中国，也只有马克思主义理论才能为学生一生的成长奠定科学思想基础。习近平在2016年12月召开的全国高校思想政治工作会议上强调：“要坚持不懈传播马克思主义科学理论，抓好马克思主义理论教育，为学生一生成长奠定科学的思想基础。”当然，学生不能只学马克思主义理论。如列宁指出：“只有了解人类创造的一切财富以丰富自己的头脑，才能成为共产主义者。”但是，离开马克思主义理论，就不能确立坚定正确的政治方向，树立科学的世界观、人生观、价值观，也不能正确分析和对待其他思想理论。所以，思政课的本质要求是帮助学生学好马克思主义理论。

Third, the ideological and political theory course is in essence a course in Marxist theoretical education, which is determined by the nature, characteristics, and tasks that distinguish it from other courses within the school curriculum system. Schools at all levels in our country have curriculum plans explicitly stipulated by the state or established under state guidance, setting up multiple courses to form a curriculum system. Each course revolves around the general goal stipulated by the educational policy of cultivating builders and successors for the socialist cause who are developed comprehensively in morality, intelligence, physique, aesthetics, and labor, possessing universality, while also having its own particularity, undertaking different tasks, and cultivating students' core competencies in different aspects. The particularity of the ideological and political theory course as a part of this system lies in its focus on conducting ideological and political education for students and playing a "role of political leadership and value guidance within the curriculum system." [5]5 Ministry of Education, "Guidelines for the Construction of Ideological and Political Theory Courses in Institutions of Higher Learning in the New Era" (2020). Xi Jinping pointed out that to build philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, "one must be adept at integrating resources from ancient and modern times, China and abroad," "first, the resources of Marxism," "second, the resources of fine traditional Chinese culture," and "third, the resources of foreign philosophy and social sciences." [6]6 Xi Jinping, "Speech at a Symposium on Philosophy and Social Sciences" (May 17, 2016). The various courses within the ideological and political theory course must also integrate resources from fine traditional Chinese culture and foreign philosophy and social sciences from related disciplines. However, the selection and application of these resources must serve the purpose of explaining Marxist principles well and conducting ideological and political education for students. Whether it is the "Morality and Rule of Law" course at the compulsory education stage, the ideological and political courses at the senior high school stage, or the various ideological and political theory courses offered to undergraduates, master's students, and doctoral students in higher education, the "principles" taught are, fundamentally, Marxist theory.

其三，思政课本质上是马克思主义理论教育课，是由思政课在学校课程体系中区别于其他课程的性质、特点、任务决定的。我国各级学校都有国家明确规定的或在国家指导下确立的课程方案，设立了多门课程，形成课程体系。各门课程围绕着教育方针规定的培养德智体美劳全面发展的社会主义建设者和接班人这个总目标展开，具有普遍性，同时有各自的特殊性，承担不同任务，培养学生不同方面的核心素养。思政课作为其中一部分的特殊性在于，它专注于对学生进行思想政治教育，并且发挥“在课程体系中的政治引领和价值引领作用”。习近平指出，构建中国特色哲学社会科学，“要善于融通古今中外各种资源”，“一是马克思主义的资源”，“二是中华优秀传统文化的资源”，“三是国外哲学社会科学的资源”。思政课的各门课程也要融通各相关学科中的中华优秀传统文化和国外哲学社会科学的资源。但是这些资源的选取和运用，都要服务于讲好马克思主义道理、对学生进行思想政治教育的目的。无论是义务教育阶段的“道德与法治”课，高中阶段的思想政治课，还是高校为本科生、硕士生、博士生开设的各门思政课，所讲的“道理”，从根本上说都是马克思主义理论。

The essence of the ideological and political theory course, like all other things, is the unity of universality and particularity, and universality can only exist within particularity. Mao Zedong pointed out in "On Contradiction": "What is especially important and constitutes the foundation for our understanding of things is to pay attention to their particular points, that is, to note the qualitative distinction between this form of motion and others." [7]7 Mao Zedong, "On Contradiction" (August 1937). When we study the essence of the ideological and political theory course, we must pay attention to its universal essence, but even more so, we must recognize its particular essence. Cultivating people is the common universal essence of all education; cultivating builders and successors for the socialist cause who are developed comprehensively in morality, intelligence, physique, aesthetics, and labor is the common essence of contemporary Chinese education and all its courses; while the particular essence of the ideological and political theory course lies in the fact that it is a course focused on ideological and political education, using Marxism, especially Marxism adapted to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, to forge souls and educate people. The universal essence of education exists within this particularity.

思政课的本质，同其他一切事物一样，是普遍性和特殊性的统一，普遍性只能存在于特殊性之中。毛泽东在《矛盾论》中指出：“尤其重要的，成为我们认识事物的基础的东西，则是必须注意它的特殊点，就是说，注意它和其他运动形式的质的区别。”我们研究思政课的本质，既要注意它的普遍性本质，更要认识它的特殊本质。培养人是一切教育共同的普遍的本质，培养德智体美劳全面发展的社会主义事业建设者和接班人是当代中国教育及其各门课程共同的本质，而思政课的特殊本质则在于，它是专注于思想政治教育、用马克思主义特别是中国化时代化的马克思主义铸魂育人的课程。教育的普遍性本质存在于这种特殊性之中。

II. Explaining Principles Deeply, Thoroughly, and Vividly Is the Essential Requirement of the Ideological and Political Theory Course

二、把道理讲深讲透讲活是思政课的本质要求

"Explaining principles deeply, thoroughly, and vividly" can fully embody the essence of the ideological and political theory course. What does it mean to "explain deeply," "explain thoroughly," and "explain vividly"? Why is it necessary to "explain deeply," "explain thoroughly," and "explain vividly"?

“把道理讲深讲透讲活”，才能充分体现思政课的本质。什么是“讲深”“讲透”“讲活”？为什么要“讲深”“讲透”“讲活”？

First, the ideological and political theory course must "explain principles deeply." "Explaining deeply" means penetrating from the phenomenon of things to their essence, rising from the perceptual stage of cognition to the rational stage. Objective things, as objects of cognition, are all unities of phenomenon and essence. Phenomena are richer than essence; essence is deeper than phenomena. The law of human cognitive development, that rational cognition depends on perceptual cognition and perceptual cognition must develop into rational cognition, is also the law of individual cognitive development. Following this law, the teaching of Marxist theory in the ideological and political theory course must also resort to perceptual materials. Textbooks for senior high school ideological and political courses commonly arrange situational introductions, provide factual materials, examples for analysis, and sometimes tell stories; textbooks for college ideological and political theory courses also include many examples, all aimed at guiding students to understand scientific theory based on perceptual cognition. But explaining these cannot replace explaining theory. Theory is systematized rational cognition, using the thought forms of concepts, judgments, and reasoning to reveal the essence and laws of things. "Only what is understood can be more deeply felt. Feeling only solves the problem of phenomena; theory alone solves the problem of essence." [8]8 Mao Zedong, "On Practice" (July 1937). The purpose of "explaining profound things in simple language" is "profundity"; if one only simplifies without being profound, it becomes superficial, deviating from the essence of the ideological and political theory course. The essential requirement of the ideological and political theory course is to make accurate and clear expressions and understandable and thorough explanations of concepts and theoretical viewpoints, not allowing theory to be submerged in perceptual materials. For example, when explaining the universality of contradiction, one should give examples of contradictions in various things, but only by thoroughly explaining the basic principle that "contradiction exists in the process of all objective things and subjective thought, and contradiction runs through the entire process of all things" [9]9 Mao Zedong, "On Contradiction" (August 1937). can the essence of the ideological and political theory course as "explaining principles" be embodied.

第一，思政课要把道理“讲深”。“讲深”就是要从事物的现象深入到本质，从认识的感性阶段上升到理性阶段。作为认识对象的客观事物都是现象与本质的统一。现象比本质丰富，本质比现象深刻。理性认识依赖于感性认识、感性认识有待于发展到理性认识的人类认识发展规律，也是个人认识发展的规律。遵循这一规律，思政课讲授马克思主义理论也要诉诸感性材料。高中思想政治课教材中普遍安排了情景导入，提供事实材料、举例分析，有时还讲故事；高校思政课教材中也举了不少例子，其目的都是引导学生以感性认识为基础理解科学理论。但讲这些不能代替讲理论。理论是系统化的理性认识，是用概念、判断、推理的思维形式来揭示事物的本质和规律。“只有理解了的东西才更深刻地感觉它。感觉只解决现象问题，理论才解决本质问题。”“深入浅出”的目的是“深入”，只浅出不深入就会流于肤浅，偏离思政课的本质。思政课的本质要求对概念、理论观点作出准确、清晰的表达和明白、透彻的讲解，不让理论淹没在感性材料之中。例如，讲矛盾的普遍性，要举各种事物中矛盾的实例，但是只有深入讲解“矛盾存在于一切客观事物和主观思维的过程中，矛盾贯串于一切过程的始终”的基本原理，才能体现思政课“讲道理”的本质。

The essence of things has different levels of depth, and the reflection of the essence of things by theory is stratified, with distinctions between deep and shallow. Lenin summarized 16 "elements of dialectics" in his *Philosophical Notebooks*, one of which is—"the infinite process of deepening of man's knowledge of things, phenomena, processes, etc., from appearance to essence and from less profound to more profound essence." [10]10 V. I. Lenin, "Conspectus of Hegel's *Science of Logic*" (1914-1915), in *Collected Works*, Vol. 38, p. 221. For the ideological and political theory course to "explain principles deeply," it must not only penetrate from phenomena to essence but also go "from less profound to more profound essence." "Explaining deeply" cannot stop at explaining "what it is"; it must also thoroughly explain "why it is so." Only in this way can it help students truly understand and be convinced by Marxism, turning it into their own worldview and methodology, rather than merely understanding it as a piece of knowledge.

事物的本质有深浅不同的层次，理论对事物本质的反映是分层次的，有深和浅的区别。列宁在《哲学笔记》中总结出16条“辩证法的要素”，其中一条是——“人对事物、现象、过程等等的认识深化的无限过程，从现象到本质、从不甚深刻的本质到更深刻的本质”。思政课把道理“讲深”，不仅要从现象深入到本质，还要“从不甚深刻的本质到更深刻的本质”。“讲深”就不能只讲“是什么”，还要深入讲解“为什么”，这样才能帮助学生真正理解并且信服马克思主义，把它变成自己的世界观和方法论，而不是仅仅当作一种知识去了解。

To what extent must "explaining deeply" go, and where should the questioning of "why" pursue? The answer should be "explain thoroughly."

讲深要“深”到什么程度，追问“为什么”要追到哪里呢？回答应该是“讲透”。

Second, ideological and political theory courses must “thoroughly explain” the principles. “Thoroughly explain” means to be “deep” in a penetrating and complete way. Marx said: “Theory, as soon as it is thorough, can convince people.” Xi Jinping cites this famous assertion to elaborate the requirements for teaching ideological and political theory courses, and points out that “Marxist theory is a thorough theory.” He emphasizes: “The theories, viewpoints, and conclusions taught by teachers of ideological and political theory courses must withstand students’ various ‘why’ questions; only then can the effect be good.” “One must cultivate the true skill of not fearing questions, fearing the absence of questions, and being delighted when questions arise; one cannot shrink back when students raise questions. Truth has always developed through interrogation and debate. If a single question brings you down, it means that what you are teaching is not truth, or that you have not yet grasped the truth yourself.”

第二，思政课要把道理“讲透”。“讲透”就是要“深”得透彻、彻底。马克思说：“理论只要彻底，就能说服人。”习近平引用这一著名论断来阐述对思政课教学的要求，并且指出，“马克思主义理论就是彻底的理论”。他强调：“思政课教师所讲的理论、观点、结论要经得起学生各种‘为什么’的追问，这样效果才能好。”“要练就不怕问、怕不问、见问则喜的真本领，不能见学生提问就发怵。真理从来是在诘问和辩难中发展起来的，如果一问就问倒了，那就说明所讲的不是真理或者自己还没有掌握真理。”

To “thoroughly explain” the principles is to bring out the thoroughness of Marxist theory. How can theory be made thorough? Marx said: “To be thorough is to grasp the root of the matter.” “Thoroughly explain” requires constantly asking “why” and pursuing the root of the matter. The foundational theories of every discipline, when pursued to their ultimate end, are questions of worldview, questions of philosophy. Marxism is a thorough and rigorous scientific system of thought based on its philosophy. Mao Zedong said, “Marxism has several branches of learning,” and “the foundation is Marxist philosophy.” The basic question of philosophy is the relationship between consciousness and matter, between thinking and being. The thoroughness of Marxist philosophy lies in its unification of materialism with dialectics, carried through into all fields, including social history, to become a thorough materialist worldview. Xi Jinping points out that one must “study and grasp the principle that the world is unified in matter and that matter determines consciousness.” Only by pursuing this most basic and core principle does one grasp the root of all things in the material world. In the field of social history, the question of who is the creator of history is the most basic and core issue. In his speech at the eleventh collective study session of the Political Bureau of the 18th Central Committee, Xi Jinping pointed out: “How to understand the role of the masses in history is a major question of the social-historical outlook. In opposition to the idealist heroic view of history, the historical materialist mass view of history for the first time thoroughly resolved this major question, proposing that the people are the creators of history.” He demands “studying and grasping the viewpoint that the masses are the creators of history.” Only by pursuing the fundamental principle that the masses are the creators of history does one grasp the root of all things in the field of social history. These principles are not only the fundamental principles of Marxist philosophy but also of the entire scientific theoretical system of Marxism; they answer the most fundamental questions and embody the thoroughness of Marxist theory. Seeking truth from facts and the mass line, which are the living soul of Mao Zedong Thought, are embodiments of these fundamental principles. The principle that the world is unified in matter and that matter determines consciousness requires that all theories must conform to objective reality. The principle that the masses are the creators of history requires that all theories must conform to the fundamental interests of the people. The thoroughness of Marxism lies in the fact that all its theoretical viewpoints both conform to objective reality and represent the fundamental interests of the people, embodying the unity of truth and value, and to this day “occupying the commanding heights of truth and morality,” thus possessing full persuasive power. For ideological and political theory courses to thoroughly explain the principles means, through constantly asking “why,” to make clear that the principles of Marxism all conform both to objective reality and to the fundamental interests of the people. In this way, “they can convince people,” enabling the masses to grasp truth and using truth to grasp the masses. Whether a teacher can withstand students’ various “why” questions, whether they will be brought down by questions, comes down, in the final analysis, to whether they can explain clearly that all these principles conform both to objective reality and to the fundamental interests of the people.

把道理“讲透”，就是要讲出马克思主义理论的彻底性。怎样才能把理论讲彻底？马克思说：“所谓彻底，就是抓住事物的根本。”“讲透”，就要不断追问“为什么”，追到事物的根本。各学科的基础理论，追到最后，都是世界观问题、哲学问题。马克思主义是以其哲学为基础的彻底而严整的科学思想体系。毛泽东说，“马克思主义有几门学问”，“基础的东西是马克思主义哲学”。哲学的基本问题是意识和物质、思维和存在的关系问题。马克思主义哲学的彻底性就在于，它把唯物主义同辩证法统一起来，贯彻到包括社会历史在内的一切领域，成为彻底的唯物主义的世界观。习近平指出，要“学习掌握世界统一于物质、物质决定意识的原理”。追到这一最基本、最核心的原理，才抓住了物质世界一切事物的根本。在社会历史领域，谁是历史的创造者是最基本、最核心的问题。习近平在十八届中央政治局第十一次集体学习时的讲话中指出：“如何认识人民群众在历史上的作用，是社会历史观的重大问题。同历史唯心主义英雄史观相对立，历史唯物主义群众史观第一次彻底解决了这个重大问题，提出人民是历史的创造者。”他要求“学习和掌握人民群众是历史创造者的观点”。追到人民群众是历史创造者这一根本原理，才抓住了社会历史领域一切事物的根本。这些原理既是马克思主义哲学，也是整个马克思主义科学理论体系的根本原理，回答了最根本的问题，体现了马克思主义理论的彻底性。作为毛泽东思想活的灵魂的实事求是和群众路线，就是这些根本原理的体现。世界统一于物质、物质决定意识的原理要求一切理论都必须符合客观实际。人民群众是历史创造者的原理要求一切理论都必须符合人民根本利益。马克思主义的彻底性就在于，它的全部理论观点既符合客观实际，又代表了人民根本利益，体现了真理和价值的统一，至今“占据着真理和道义的制高点”，所以具有充分的说服力。思政课把道理讲透，就是要通过不断追问“为什么”，讲清楚马克思主义的道理都是既符合客观实际又符合人民根本利益的。这样“就能说服人”，让群众掌握真理，用真理掌握群众。教师能不能经得起学生各种“为什么”的追问，会不会被问倒，说到底，就是看能不能讲清楚所有这些道理都是既符合客观实际又符合人民根本利益的。

To “thoroughly explain” the principles also requires further answering the question of the basis and foundation of the principles that the world is unified in matter and matter determines consciousness, and that the masses are the creators of history. These cannot be proven by giving examples, nor can they be proven by logical deduction. Examples can only aid understanding but cannot prove universal truths; logical deduction can eliminate fallacies but cannot ultimately establish truth. Xi Jinping, citing Engels’s exposition, points out: “The real unity of the world consists in its materiality, and this materiality is proved not by a few conjuring phrases of a magician, but by the long and continuous development of philosophy and natural science.” The same is true of the principle that the masses are the creators of history. Marx points out: “The question whether objective truth can be attributed to human thinking is not a question of theory but is a practical question. Man must prove the truth, i.e., the reality and power, the this-sidedness of his thinking in practice.” The criterion for testing truth is social practice, not logical proof. For any logically rigorous scientific system, the fundamental principle that serves as its logical starting point cannot be proven by logical deduction but can only be tested by practice. The principles that the world is unified in matter and matter determines consciousness, that the masses are the creators of history, and the Marxist ideological system that takes these fundamental principles as its logical starting point, are scientific truths that have been proven by the long-term and repeated social practice of the masses. Mao Zedong pointed out: “The reason why Marxism-Leninism is called truth is not only that Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Stalin scientifically constructed these doctrines, but also that they were subsequently confirmed by the practice of revolutionary class struggle and national struggle.” Xi Jinping says that the “scientific nature and truth of Marxism have been fully tested in China.” The “bottom” [di] that theory must be thorough about, within the scope of theory itself, is the fundamental principle that serves as its logical starting point; but the foundation of theory does not lie within theory itself. The ultimate “bottom” of these fundamental principles and of all scientific theory does not exist within theory or cognition, but in social practice. Only social practice is the criterion for testing the truth of cognition. Only by thoroughly explaining these principles can the thoroughness of Marxist theory be manifested, and only then can people be convinced.

把道理“讲透”，还要进一步回答世界统一于物质、物质决定意识和人民群众是历史创造者原理的根据和基础是什么的追问。这些不能用举例来证明，也不能靠逻辑推理来证明。举例只能帮助理解而不能证明普遍真理；逻辑推理可以排除谬误，但不能最终确立真理。习近平引用恩格斯的论述指出：“世界的真正的统一性在于它的物质性，而这种物质性不是由魔术师的三两句话所证明的，而是由哲学和自然科学的长期的和持续的发展所证明的。”人民群众是历史创造者的原理也是如此。马克思指出，“人的思维是否具有客观的真理性，这不是一个理论的问题，而是一个实践的问题。人应该在实践中证明自己思维的真理性”。检验真理的标准是社会实践，而不是逻辑证明。任何逻辑严谨的科学体系，作为其逻辑起点的根本原理，都不能用逻辑推理来证明而只能由实践来检验。世界统一于物质、物质决定意识的原理，人民群众是历史创造者的原理，以及以这些根本原理为逻辑起点的马克思主义思想体系，是由人民群众长期反复的社会实践证明了的科学真理。毛泽东指出：“马克思列宁主义之所以被称为真理，也不但在于马克思、恩格斯、列宁、斯大林等人科学地构成这些学说的时候，而且在于为尔后革命的阶级斗争和民族斗争的实践所证实的时候。”习近平说，马克思主义的“科学性和真理性在中国得到了充分检验”。理论要彻底的“底”，在理论自身范围内，是作为其逻辑起点的根本原理；但是理论的基础不在于理论自身，这些根本原理以及全部科学理论最终的“底”，并不存在于理论或认识之中，而是社会实践。只有社会实践才是检验认识真理性的标准。把这些道理讲透彻，才能体现马克思主义理论的彻底性，才能说服人。

Third, ideological and political theory courses must “explain the principles vividly.” “Explaining the principles vividly” includes the requirement for lively and engaging forms of teaching in ideological and political theory courses. Mao Zedong said: “Political lessons must be linked to reality, be lively and interesting, and not be dogmatic.” Mao Zedong’s proposed “teaching methods” include “the heuristic method (abolish the injection method),” “proceed from the near to the distant,” “proceed from the shallow to the deep,” “popularize speech (explain new terms in plain language),” “speak clearly,” “speak with interest,” “use gestures to aid speech,” and “use the discussion method for cadre classes.” During the Yan’an Rectification Movement, Mao Zedong proposed: “We must discard the Party stereotyped writing [dang bagu] and adopt a lively, vigorous, fresh, and forceful Marxist-Leninist style of writing.” Xi Jinping also proposed: “Some ideological and political theory classrooms use methods such as group research, scenario presentations, topic seminars, and classroom debates for teaching, letting students speak, which is conducive to bringing into play the students’ role as subjects.” He also proposed that “being able to tell stories and telling stories well is very important,” and “not only should the teacher tell stories, but students should also be organized to tell stories themselves.” These all embody the requirement of “explaining the principles vividly.”

第三，思政课要把道理“讲活”。把道理“讲活”，包括了对思政课教学形式生动活泼的要求。毛泽东说：“政治课要联系实际，生动有趣，不要教条式的”。毛泽东提出的“教授法”，包括“启发式（废止注入式）”“由近及远”“由浅入深”“说话通俗化（新名词要释俗）”“说话要明白”“说话要有趣味”“以姿势助说话”以及“干部班要用讨论式”等。毛泽东在延安整风运动中提出：“必须抛弃党八股，采取生动活泼新鲜有力的马克思列宁主义的文风。”习近平也提出：“一些思政课堂运用小组研学、情景展示、课题研讨、课堂辩论等方式教学，让学生来讲，这有利于发挥学生主体性作用。”他还提出，“会讲故事、讲好故事十分重要”，“不仅老师讲，而且要组织学生自己讲”。这些都体现了把道理“讲活”的要求。

“Making it come alive” is also a requirement for the content of ideological and political theory course teaching. The form of teaching serves the content of teaching. Mao Zedong said, “In our history there have been many kinds of Marxism, fragrant Marxism and stinking Marxism, living Marxism and dead Marxism,” and “What we want is fragrant Marxism, not stinking Marxism; it is living Marxism, not dead Marxism.” [13]13 Mao Zedong, “Speech at the Symposium on the Question of the Rectification Movement” (March 5, 1957), in Selected Works of Mao Zedong, vol. 5 (Beijing: People’s Publishing House, 1977), p. 417. [14] Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Symposium on Philosophy and Social Sciences” (May 17, 2016), in Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, vol. 2 (Beijing: Foreign To “make the reasoning come alive” is to teach “living Marxism,” not to teach it as “dead Marxism.” What is “living Marxism” and what is “dead Marxism”? The distinction lies in whether one treats Marxism with a Marxist attitude or with a dogmatic or pragmatic attitude. Xi Jinping believes: “In treating Marxism, one must neither adopt a dogmatic attitude nor a pragmatic attitude.” [14]14 Mao Zedong, "On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People" (1957). He analyzes and criticizes the dogmatic attitude, pointing out that “to speak only in the quotations of the Marxist classics, and to say nothing that the Marxist classics have not said—this is not a Marxist attitude.” He cites Engels’s exposition to emphasize: “Marx’s whole world outlook is not a doctrine, but a method. It provides not ready-made dogmas, but the starting point for further investigation and the method for that investigation.” [15]15 Mao Zedong, "On the Ten Major Relationships" (1956), a speech analyzing key contradictions in China's socialist construction. Xi Jinping also analyzes and criticizes the pragmatic attitude, pointing out that “to find a large pile of quotations as needed” and “to forcibly ‘cut and paste’ the living practice and innovation of development—this too is not a Marxist attitude.”

“讲活”更是对思政课教学内容的要求。教学形式是为教学内容服务的。毛泽东说，“我们历史上的马克思主义有很多种，有香的马克思主义，有臭的马克思主义，有活的马克思主义，有死的马克思主义”，“我们所要的是香的马克思主义，不是臭的马克思主义；是活的马克思主义，不是死的马克思主义”。把道理“讲活”，就是要讲“活的马克思主义”，不能讲成“死的马克思主义”。什么是“活的马克思主义”、什么是“死的马克思主义”？区别在于是用马克思主义的态度还是用教条主义、实用主义的态度对待马克思主义。习近平认为：“对待马克思主义，不能采取教条主义的态度，也不能采取实用主义的态度。”他分析、批评了教条主义的态度，指出，“什么都用马克思主义经典作家的语录来说话，马克思主义经典作家没有说过的就不能说，这不是马克思主义的态度”。他引用恩格斯的论述强调：“马克思的整个世界观不是教义，而是方法。它提供的不是现成的教条，而是进一步研究的出发点和供这种研究使用的方法。”习近平又分析、批评了实用主义的态度，指出，“根据需要找一大堆语录”，“生硬‘剪裁’活生生的实践发展和创新，这也不是马克思主义的态度”。

To make Marxism “come alive” in teaching, one cannot only teach ready-made conclusions and isolated phrases; one must bring out the Marxist stand, viewpoint, and method embodied in each course and each part of the content, helping students understand the Marxist world outlook and methodology, and inspiring them to draw inferences about other cases from one instance and to comprehend by analogy. Xi Jinping emphasized in the report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC: “We must grasp the world outlook and methodology of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and adhere to and apply the stand, viewpoint, and method that run through it.” [16]16 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the National Conference on Ideological and Political Work in Colleges and Universities" (2016). Only when students comprehend the Marxist stand, viewpoint, and method and consciously use them to observe and analyze problems can the reasoning they learn “come alive.”

把马克思主义“讲活”，就不能只讲现成结论、个别词句，而要讲出各门课程、各部分内容中所体现的马克思主义的立场观点方法，帮助学生理解马克思主义的世界观和方法论，启发学生举一反三、触类旁通。习近平在党的二十大报告中强调：“要把握好新时代中国特色社会主义思想的世界观和方法论，坚持好、运用好贯穿其中的立场观点方法。”学生体悟到马克思主义的立场观点方法，自觉运用其来观察和分析问题，所学的道理才能“活”起来。

To make the reasoning “come alive,” one must also connect and integrate the basic principles of Marxism taught in each part of the content, understanding them as a whole. Marxism as a whole is a living scientific theory; if it is fragmented and dismembered, it becomes “dead” Marxism. Xi Jinping proposed: “Strive to advance the systematic and theoretical development of the Party’s innovative theory.” [17]17 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Teachers' Symposium for School Ideological and Political Theory Courses" (2019). He emphasized: “The reason Marxism has such a profound influence is that it reveals the truth of the development of human society through deep scholarly reasoning and demonstrates the scientific nature of its theory through a complete system.” Every concrete thing in reality is a complex unity of contradictions; only a systematically and theoretically developed theory can be applied to concrete objects and solve practical problems. If one can only recite isolated principles, one will be at a loss when facing concrete problems, or will detach from reality and paste theoretical labels onto things, turning theory into “dead” and “stinking” Marxism. Ideological and political theory courses face all students; they cannot require the same detail of theoretical content as for students and scholars specializing in Marxism, but the spirit of making theory “systematic and theoretical” should be implemented. “We must uphold systemic thinking” is one of the six “musts” [18]18 Xi Jinping, *Selected Works*, vol. 1, pp. 385-386. summarized in the report to the 20th National Congress of the CPC as the concentrated embodiment of the stand, viewpoint, and method of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; only by upholding systemic thinking can ideological and political theory courses be made to “come alive.”

把道理“讲活”，还要把各部分内容中讲的马克思主义基本原理联系起来、贯通起来，当作一个整体去理解。马克思主义作为一个整体才是活生生的科学理论，把它割裂开来，肢解了，就成了“死的”马克思主义。习近平提出：“着力推进党的创新理论体系化学理化。”他强调：“马克思主义之所以影响深远，在于其以深刻的学理揭示人类社会发展的真理性、以完备的体系论证其理论的科学性。”现实中的每一个具体事物都是复杂的矛盾统一体，只有体系化学理化的理论才能运用于具体对象，解决实际问题。如果只会背诵个别原理，面对具体问题就会束手无策，或者脱离实际贴上理论标签，把理论变成“死的”“臭的”马克思主义。思政课面对的是全体学生，不能像对马克思主义专业的学生和学者那样要求理论内容的详尽性，但是应该贯彻理论要“体系化学理化”的精神。“必须坚持系统观念”是党的二十大报告中概括的习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想立场观点方法集中体现的六个“必须坚持”之一，坚持系统观念才能把思政课“讲活”。

To understand the essence of ideological and political theory courses, one must have the correct methodology, uphold the viewpoint of the unity of opposites, and analyze the contradictory relationships within things. To understand that ideological and political theory courses are in essence theoretical courses, one must analyze the relationship among knowledge, emotion, and will in human consciousness. To understand that ideological and political theory courses are in essence courses in Marxist theoretical education, one must grasp the relationship between Marxist theory and other ideological theories. To understand that ideological and political theory courses must make the reasoning “profound,” one must recognize the relationship between the phenomenon and essence of things, and between perceptual and rational knowledge in human cognition. To understand that ideological and political theory courses must make the reasoning “thorough,” one must consider the relationship between explaining “what it is” and explaining “why it is so.” To understand that ideological and political theory courses must make the reasoning “come alive,” one must clarify the relationship between “living Marxism” and “dead Marxism.” Without the analysis of contradictions, one cannot deeply understand the essence of ideological and political theory courses.

理解思政课的本质，要有正确的方法论，坚持对立统一观点，分析事物中的矛盾关系。理解思政课本质上是理论课，要分析人的意识中知、情、意的关系。理解思政课本质上是马克思主义理论教育课，要弄懂马克思主义理论同其他思想理论的关系。理解思政课要把道理“讲深”，要认识事物的现象和本质、人的认识中感性认识和理性认识的关系。理解思政课要把道理“讲透”，要思考讲“是什么”和讲“为什么”的关系。理解思政课要把道理“讲活”，要弄清楚“活的马克思主义”和“死的马克思主义”的关系。离开矛盾分析，就不能深刻理解思政课的本质。

III. Upholding the Eight “Unities” Is the Law of Ideological and Political Theory Course Teaching

三、坚持八个“相统一”是思政课教学的规律

How can ideological and political theory courses “make the reasoning profound, thorough, and alive”? Only by consciously applying the laws can this be achieved.

思政课怎样才能“把道理讲深讲透讲活”？只有自觉运用规律才能做到。

At the Symposium for Teachers of Ideological and Political Theory Courses in Schools, Xi Jinping summarized the experience of school ideological and political theory courses and elaborated on how to teach them well. He pointed out, “To promote the reform and innovation of ideological and political theory courses, we must achieve the following ‘unities.’” [19]19 V. I. Lenin, *What Is to Be Done?* (1902), arguing that socialist consciousness must be brought to the working class from outside the economic struggle. He spoke of upholding the eight “unities.” The author believes that this is a summary and elaboration of the laws of ideological and political theory course teaching.

习近平在学校思想政治理论课教师座谈会上总结学校思政课的经验，阐述了怎样才能讲好思政课，他指出，“推动思政课改革创新，要做到以下几个‘统一’”。他讲了坚持八个“相统一”。笔者认为，这是对思政课教学规律的概括和阐述。

Why is upholding the eight “unities” the law of ideological and political theory course teaching? Ideological and political theory courses are the teaching practice activities of teachers. Teachers are the subjects of teaching practice. For teachers, the law of ideological and political theory course teaching is a law of subjective practical activity. The unified material world includes the practical activities of human beings as subjects, so the laws of material motion include the laws of practice, that is, the laws of the practical activities of subjects. The laws of practice, like the laws of the motion of objects, have objectivity and do not change according to individual subjective will. Only when people recognize these laws and follow and apply them can they achieve success in practice. Therefore, to teach ideological and political theory courses well, one must deeply explore the laws of ideological and political theory course teaching.

为什么说坚持八个“相统一”是思政课教学的规律？思政课是教师的教学实践活动。教师是教学实践的主体。对教师来说，思政课教学规律是一种主体实践活动规律。统一的物质世界包括作为主体的人类的实践活动，所以物质运动规律包括实践规律，即主体实践活动的规律。实践规律同客体运动的规律一样，具有客观性，不以个人的主观意志为转移。人们认识了这些规律，并遵循和运用这些规律，才能在实践中获得成功。所以上好思政课要深入探讨思政课教学的规律。

In human rational thought, the form of thought that reflects the laws of practice has its particularity compared with the form of thought that reflects the laws of the motion of objects; it usually manifests as the principles and requirements that subjects should follow in practice. Subjects gradually come to recognize the laws of practical activity in social practice, reveal them by summing up experience, and express them as what must be “upheld.” The meaning is: only by upholding these principles and requirements can one achieve success in practice; this is a law that cannot be violated. For example, the ten “upholds” of historical experience summarized in the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party over the Past Century adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC—namely, upholding the leadership of the Party, upholding a people-centered approach, upholding theoretical innovation, upholding independence and self-reliance, upholding the Chinese path, upholding a global vision, upholding pioneering and innovation, upholding the courage to struggle, upholding the united front, and upholding self-revolution—are the revelation and expression of the fundamental laws of the Party’s practical activities. [20]20 Mao Zedong, "Methods of Teaching" (1929), advocating elicitation over rote injection in political education. The six “upholds” principles established in the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese-Path Modernization adopted at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC—namely, upholding the Party’s overall leadership, upholding a people-centered approach, upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground, upholding institution building as the main thread, upholding law-based governance in all respects, and upholding systemic thinking—are the revelation of the laws of comprehensively deepening reform through summing up the experience since reform and opening up, especially since the New Era. [21]21 Mao Zedong, “Rectify the Party’s Style of Work” (1942), in which he criticized subjectivism and called for a systematic and practical approach to studying Marxism. At the National Education Conference in 2018, Xi Jinping summarized the new ideas, new concepts, and new viewpoints put forward in education reform and development since the 18th National Congress of the CPC as: upholding the Party’s overall leadership over education, upholding fostering virtue through education as the fundamental task, upholding the priority development of education, upholding the socialist orientation of running schools, upholding the rooting of education in China’s soil, upholding a people-centered approach to developing education, upholding the deepening of education reform and innovation, upholding the service of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as an important mission of education, and upholding the building of the teaching force as foundational work. Xi Jinping pointed out: “The above nine points are the deepening of our understanding of the laws of China’s educational cause. They have not come easily and must be always upheld and continuously enriched and developed.” [22]22 The six "musts" (六个“要”) refer to the six requirements for ideological and political theory course teachers set by Xi Jinping at a 2019 symposium: political stance must be strong The expression “understanding of the laws” indicates that these nine “upholds” are the laws of China’s educational cause that we have come to recognize through practice. By the same reasoning, Xi Jinping’s proposal that ideological and political theory courses must uphold the eight “unities” is the law of ideological and political theory course teaching practice derived from summing up long-term historical experience. This law can be expressed as: only by upholding the eight “unities” can ideological and political theory courses be taught well.

在人的理性思维中，反映实践规律的思维形式同反映客体运动规律的思维形式相比有其特殊性，通常表现主体在实践中应该遵循的原则、要求。主体在社会实践中逐步认识到实践活动的规律，通过总结经验将其揭示出来，表达为必须“坚持”什么。其含义是：坚持这些原则和要求，才能在实践中获得成功，这是不能违背的规律。例如，党的十九届六中全会通过的《中共中央关于党的百年奋斗重大成就和历史经验的决议》总结的十个“坚持”的历史经验，即坚持党的领导、坚持人民至上、坚持理论创新、坚持独立自主、坚持中国道路、坚持胸怀天下、坚持开拓创新、坚持敢于斗争、坚持统一战线、坚持自我革命，就是对党的实践活动根本规律的揭示和表达。党的二十届三中全会通过的《中共中央关于进一步全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化的决定》确立六个“坚持”原则，即坚持党的全面领导、坚持以人民为中心、坚持守正创新、坚持以制度建设为主线、坚持全面依法治国、坚持系统观念，这是通过总结改革开放以来特别是进入新时代以来的经验，揭示出全面深化改革的规律。在2018年的全国教育大会上，习近平把党的十八大以来在教育改革发展中提出的新理念新思想新观点概括为：坚持党对教育事业的全面领导，坚持把立德树人作为根本任务，坚持优先发展教育事业，坚持社会主义办学方向，坚持扎根中国大地办教育，坚持以人民为中心发展教育，坚持深化教育改革创新，坚持把服务中华民族伟大复兴作为教育的重要使命，坚持把教师队伍建设作为基础工作。习近平指出：“以上九条，是我们对我国教育事业规律性认识的深化，来之不易，要始终坚持并不断丰富发展。”“规律性认识”的表述表明这九个“坚持”是我们通过实践认识到的我国教育事业的规律。同样的道理，习近平提出思政课要坚持八个“相统一”，这是通过总结长期历史经验得出的思政课教学实践的规律。这一规律可以表述为：只有坚持八个“相统一”，才能讲好思政课。

How should we understand the teaching law of adhering to the eight "unities" in ideological and political theory courses? There have already been many scholarly research results regarding the eight "unities" proposed by Xi Jinping. This article only discusses, from a methodological perspective, how to understand the law of adhering to the eight "unities."

如何理解坚持八个“相统一”的思政课教学规律？对于习近平提出的八个“相统一”，学界已经有许多研究成果。本文仅从方法论的角度谈谈如何理解坚持八个“相统一”的规律。

Understanding the law requires adhering to the viewpoint of the unity of opposites and the method of contradiction analysis. A law is an essential relationship among things or a relationship between essences. Things are constituted by contradictions, so all relationships are, in the final analysis, contradictory relationships, that is, relationships of both opposition and unity between the two sides of a contradiction. Mao Zedong pointed out: "The law of the unity of opposites is the fundamental law of the universe. This law is universally present in nature, human society, and human thought. The opposing sides of a contradiction are both unified and in struggle, and it is this that drives the movement and change of things." [14]14 Mao Zedong, "On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People" (1957). Thus, all laws are laws of the movement of contradictions. The difference between different laws lies in the particularity of the contradictions in different things; the nature of the contradictions differs, and the methods of resolution also differ. To understand the law of a certain practice is to reveal the relationship of unity and opposition between the two sides of the contradiction in that practice; to apply the law is to correctly handle these contradictory relationships. In the 1950s, Mao Zedong, through in-depth investigation and research, summarized China's practical experience, revealed ten major relationships in socialist revolution and construction, and published "On the Ten Major Relationships." [15]15 Mao Zedong, "On the Ten Major Relationships" (1956), a speech analyzing key contradictions in China's socialist construction. He said: "These ten relationships are all contradictions. The world is composed of contradictions. Without contradictions, there would be no world. Our task is to correctly handle these contradictions." Only by correctly handling these contradictions can socialist revolution and construction be done well. This was the law of socialist revolution and construction that our Party had recognized up to that point. The law of teaching ideological and political theory courses, from the perspective of the unity of opposites, is: only by correctly understanding and handling the various contradictions in ideological and political theory courses and achieving the eight "unities" can one teach a good ideological and political theory course.

理解规律要坚持对立统一观点和矛盾分析方法。规律是事物本质的关系或本质之间的关系，事物是由矛盾构成的，所以各种关系说到底都是矛盾关系，即矛盾双方之间既对立又统一的关系。毛泽东指出：“对立统一规律是宇宙的根本规律。这个规律，不论在自然界、人类社会和人们的思想中，都是普遍存在的。矛盾着的对立面又统一，又斗争，由此推动事物的运动和变化。”可见，一切规律都是矛盾运动的规律。不同规律的区别在于不同事物中的矛盾各有其特殊性，矛盾性质不同，解决的方法也不同。认识某一项实践的规律，就是揭示这一实践中矛盾双方之间的对立统一关系；运用规律，就是正确处理这些矛盾关系。20世纪50年代，毛泽东经过深入调查研究，总结我国的实践经验，揭示了社会主义革命和建设中的十种重大关系，发表了《论十大关系》。他说：“这十种关系，都是矛盾。世界是由矛盾组成的。没有矛盾就没有世界。我们的任务，是要正确处理这些矛盾。”只有正确处理这些矛盾，才能搞好社会主义革命和建设。这是我们党到当时为止认识到的社会主义革命和建设的规律。思政课教学的规律，从对立统一的观点看就是：只有正确认识和处理思政课中的各种矛盾，实现八个“相统一”，才能上好思政课。

The first is the contradiction between political nature and academic rationality. An ideological and political theory course is both a political course and a theoretical course. The first thing to face in teaching is the contradiction between political nature and academic rationality. "Throughout history and across the world, every country cultivates people according to its own political requirements." [16]16 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the National Conference on Ideological and Political Work in Colleges and Universities" (2016). Political guidance is the basic function of ideological and political theory courses. The fundamental task of ideological and political theory courses is to educate and guide students to establish a firm and correct political direction, support the leadership of the Communist Party of China and China's socialist system, and adhere to socialism with Chinese characteristics. Such a political direction is elucidated by Marxist theory. Adhering to political nature requires thoroughly explaining the theory. Without thorough academic analysis, it becomes simple political propaganda. Adhering to academic rationality is for the purpose of establishing a political direction. Only engaging in academic discussion blurs the goal of political guidance. Therefore, political nature and academic rationality must be unified.

一是政治性和学理性的矛盾。思政课既是政治课又是理论课，教学中首先要面对的就是政治性和学理性的矛盾。“古今中外，每个国家都是按照自己的政治要求来培养人的”。政治引导是思政课的基本功能。思政课的根本任务是教育引导学生确立坚定正确的政治方向，拥护中国共产党领导和我国社会主义制度，坚持中国特色社会主义。这样的政治方向是由马克思主义理论阐明的。坚持政治性就要讲透理论。没有透彻的学理分析，就会变成简单的政治宣传。坚持学理性是为了确立政治方向。只做学术性讨论，就模糊了政治导向的目的。所以必须把政治性和学理性统一起来。

The second is the contradiction between value orientation and knowledge impartation. Ideological and political theory courses focus on shaping students' values, guiding them to establish correct life goals and value pursuits. Without scientific knowledge as support, values education becomes empty preaching; only emphasizing knowledge impartation dilutes the purpose of value guidance and blurs the direction of value guidance. The relationship between the two is that of purpose and carrier: "knowledge is the carrier, value is the purpose." [17]17 Xi Jinping, "Speech at the Teachers' Symposium for School Ideological and Political Theory Courses" (2019). One must both recognize that realizing the value purpose is inseparable from the knowledge carrier and understand that using the knowledge carrier must not forget the value purpose. "Embedding value guidance in knowledge impartation" is the basic method for correctly handling this pair of contradictions.

二是价值性和知识性的矛盾。思政课重在塑造学生的价值观，引导学生确立正确的人生目标和价值追求。没有科学的知识做支撑，价值观教育就会变成空洞的说教；只强调知识性，就会淡化价值引导的目的，模糊价值引导的方向。二者之间是目的和载体的关系，“知识是载体、价值是目的”。既要看到实现价值目的离不开知识载体，又要懂得运用知识载体不能忘记价值目的。“寓价值观引导于知识传授之中”，是正确处理这一对矛盾的基本方法。

The third is the contradiction between constructive nature and critical nature. Ideological and political theory courses are taught in a complex social environment, facing acute and complex contradictions and struggles in the ideological sphere. To teach a good ideological and political theory course, one must both take constructive nature as the foundation, spreading the mainstream ideology, and confront various erroneous views and phenomena of the false, evil, and ugly in society with the thorough critical spirit of Marxism, conducting analysis and criticism with a clear stand. Without criticizing erroneous ideas, one cannot "explain Marxism deeply and thoroughly." Without "explaining Marxism deeply and thoroughly," one cannot deeply expose and analyze erroneous views, distinguishing right from wrong, truth from falsehood. Therefore, ideological and political theory courses must have both constructive nature and critical nature, and these two aspects must be unified.

三是建设性和批判性的矛盾。思政课是在复杂的社会环境中，面对意识形态领域尖锐复杂的矛盾和斗争开展教学的。讲好思政课，既要以建设性为根本，传播主流意识形态，又要以马克思主义的彻底批判精神直面各种错误观点和社会中的假恶丑现象，旗帜鲜明地进行剖析和批判。不批判错误思想，就不能把马克思主义“讲深讲透”。不“讲深讲透”马克思主义，就不能深入揭露、分析错误观点，明辨大是大非、真假黑白。所以思政课既要有建设性又要有批判性，要把这两方面统一起来。

The fourth is the contradiction between theoretical nature and practical nature. The contradictory relationship of both opposition and unity between theory and practice runs through all human practice and cognitive activities, and also runs through the teaching of ideological and political theory courses. Adhering to the unity of theory and practice is a basic principle of Marxism and a law that must be followed to teach a good ideological and political theory course. Theory cannot be separated from practice, and practice cannot be separated from the guidance of scientific theory. Students grow in the unity of learning scientific theory and participating in social practice; this is the law of student growth. Marxism is a scientific theory and also a practical theory. The teaching of ideological and political theory courses must follow the law of student growth, both helping students learn and master scientific theory and guiding students to participate in social practice under the guidance of scientific theory. The small classroom of ideological and political theory courses must be combined with the big classroom of society, educating and guiding students to learn and grow in the integration of theory and practice.

四是理论性和实践性的矛盾。理论和实践既对立又统一的矛盾关系贯穿人类全部实践和认识活动之中，也贯穿思政课教学之中。坚持理论和实践相统一是马克思主义的基本原则，也是上好思政课必须遵循的规律。理论不能脱离实践，实践不能离开科学理论指导。学生是在学习科学理论和参加社会实践的统一中成长的，这是学生成长的规律。马克思主义是科学的理论，又是实践的理论。思政课教学要遵循学生成长的规律，既帮助学生学习、掌握科学理论，又引导学生以科学理论为指导参加社会实践。要把思政小课堂同社会大课堂结合起来，教育引导学生在理论和实践的结合中学习成长。

The fifth is the contradiction between uniformity and diversity. The nature and tasks of ideological and political theory courses determine that the Party and the state must have unified requirements for their teaching objectives, curriculum setting, textbook use, and teaching management, while each region, each school, and each classroom has its own particularities. Therefore, the contradiction between uniformity and diversity inevitably exists in the teaching of ideological and political theory courses. Textbooks must reflect the will of the state; the compilation, review, and use of textbooks are state authority and must have uniformity; they cannot each act as they see fit. However, using textbooks to teach must proceed from the specific realities of the students each faces, each having its own characteristics; one cannot read the script verbatim. Students must be made to love listening and learning, to understand and master the content, achieving unified goals in different ways. Emphasizing only uniformity or only diversity cannot lead to a good ideological and political theory course.

五是统一性和多样性的矛盾。思政课的性质和任务决定了党和国家对其教学目标、课程设置、教材使用、教学管理等方面必须有统一的要求，而各地区各学校各课堂各有其特殊性，所以思政课教学中必然存在统一性和多样性的矛盾。教材要体现国家意志，教材的编写、审定、使用是国家事权，必须有统一性，不能各行其是，而使用教材上课必须从各自所面对的学生的具体实际出发，各有其特点，不能照本宣科，要让学生爱听爱学、听懂学会，以不同的方式实现统一的目标。只强调统一性或只强调多样性，都不能上好思政课。

The sixth is the contradiction between teacher dominance and student subjectivity. "Teaching" is a complex practical-cognitive activity that combines the teacher's "teaching" and the student's "learning." The teacher is the subject of "teaching" and plays a dominant role in the classroom; the student is the subject of "learning" and plays a decisive role in learning. The contradiction between teacher dominance and student subjectivity runs through the entire process of teaching ideological and political theory courses. The two sides of the contradiction are both mutually opposing and mutually dependent, and neither is dispensable. Valuing and being adept at guiding students to exert their learning subjectivity is also one manifestation of teacher dominance. Therefore, teachers must both fully exert their own dominance and value student subjectivity, "adhere to a student-centered approach, strengthen research on students' cognitive laws and acceptance characteristics, and give play to the subjective role of students," [18]18 Xi Jinping, *Selected Works*, vol. 1, pp. 385-386. unifying dominance and subjectivity.

六是主导性和主体性的矛盾。“教学”是教师“教”和学生“学”结合在一起的一种复杂的实践—认识活动。教师是“教”的主体，在课堂上起主导性作用；学生是“学”的主体，在学习中起决定性作用。教师的主导性和学生的主体性之间的矛盾贯穿思政课教学的全过程，矛盾的双方既相互对立，又相互依存，缺一不可。重视并善于引导学生发挥学习的主体性，也是教师主导性的体现之一。所以教师既要充分发挥自己的主导性，又要重视学生的主体性，“坚持以学生为中心，加大对学生的认知规律和接受特点的研究，发挥学生主体性作用”，[1](P385-386)把主导性和主体性统一起来。

The seventh is the contradiction between inculcation and elicitation. Scientific socialist ideas cannot arise spontaneously within the workers' movement; they can only be "introduced from outside." [19]19 V. I. Lenin, *What Is to Be Done?* (1902), arguing that socialist consciousness must be brought to the working class from outside the economic struggle. The "theory of inculcation" is an important principle of Marxist theoretical education proposed by Lenin, a principle that ideological and political theory courses must follow, and a basic method of teaching. How to inculcate is another question, a matter of specific teaching methods, and the "elicitation method (abolishing the injection method)" should be adhered to. [20]20 Mao Zedong, "Methods of Teaching" (1929), advocating elicitation over rote injection in political education. Therefore, the unity of opposites between inculcation and elicitation is another pair of contradictions running through the teaching process of ideological and political theory courses. If one fails to see the difference between the two sides of the contradiction and confuses the "theory of inculcation" with the "injection method," whether by insisting on the "theory of inculcation" as engaging in force-feeding "hard inculcation," or by using the "injection method" to negate the "theory of inculcation," both negate the unity of opposites of the two sides of the contradiction and separate the inculcation nature and elicitation nature of ideological and political theory courses. Without properly handling this pair of contradictions, one cannot teach a good ideological and political theory course.

七是灌输性和启发性的矛盾。科学社会主义思想不能在工人运动中自发产生，只能“从外面灌输进去”。“灌输论”是列宁提出的马克思主义理论教育的重要原则，是思政课必须遵循的原则和教学的基本方法。如何灌输是另一个问题，是教学的具体方法问题，应该坚持“启发式（废止注入式）”。所以灌输性和启发性的对立统一，是贯穿思政课教学过程的又一对矛盾。如果看不到矛盾双方的差别，把“灌输论”与“注入式”混为一谈，无论是把坚持“灌输论”当成搞填鸭式的“硬灌输”，或者用坚持“注入式”否定“灌输论”，都是否定矛盾双方的对立统一性，把思政课的灌输性和启发性割裂开来。不处理好这一对矛盾，就不能上好思政课。

Eighth is the contradiction between explicit education and implicit education. Spreading Marxism requires both a clear-cut, thunderous approach and a subtle, moistening influence, so Marxist education must unify explicit and implicit education. “Ideological and political theory courses should be explicit courses in ideological and political education”; they must be clear-cut, with the momentum of crashing waves, and must not become implicit courses. School ideological and political education is not only the task of ideological and political theory courses; it should involve all personnel, throughout the entire process, and in all aspects of education. Therefore, schools should combine the construction of ideological and political theory courses with the excavation of ideological and political education resources embedded in other courses and teaching methods, achieving the unity of explicit and implicit education and obtaining a moistening effect without sound.

八是显性教育和隐性教育的矛盾。传播马克思主义既要旗帜鲜明、振聋发聩，又要潜移默化、润物无声，所以马克思主义教育要把显性教育和隐性教育统一起来。“思政课要做思想政治教育的显性课程”，必须旗帜鲜明，有惊涛拍岸的声势，不能变成隐性课程。学校思想政治教育不只是思政课的任务，而应该全员全程全方位育人。所以学校要把思政课建设同挖掘其他课程和教学方式中蕴含的思想政治教育资源结合起来，实现显性教育和隐性教育相统一，取得润物无声的效果。

Complex things contain multiple contradictions, and the essential relationship between the two sides of each pair of contradictions is embodied in the laws of the movement and development of things. With the development of ideological and political theory courses and the deepening of people’s understanding, our understanding of the laws of teaching in ideological and political theory courses also continuously develops and will never be complete. The eight “unities” proposed by Xi Jinping are the deepest and most complete understanding of the laws of teaching in school ideological and political theory courses to date; they are a theory that has come from practice, returned to practice, and been tested. Mao Zedong said in “On Practice”: “If people want to achieve victory in their work, that is, to obtain the anticipated results, they must make their thinking conform to the laws of the objective external world; if it does not conform, they will fail in practice.” Summarizing the practice of our ideological and political theory course teaching, we can find that those that succeeded all met the requirements of these “unities”; those with poor results all had one-sidedness of one kind or another, deviating from the requirements of the “unities.” Only by deeply studying and implementing the thought of the eight “unities” and making our teaching activities conform to the laws of ideological and political theory course teaching can we “explain ideological and political theory courses deeply, thoroughly, and vividly.”

复杂的事物包含多种矛盾，每一对矛盾双方之间的本质关系都体现为事物运动发展的规律。随着思政课的发展和人的认识的深化，我们对思政课教学规律的认识也不断发展，永远不会完结。习近平提出的坚持八个“相统一”，是迄今为止对学校思政课教学规律最深入、完整的认识，是来自实践又回到实践中接受了检验的理论。毛泽东在《实践论》中说：“人们要想得到工作的胜利即得到预想的结果，一定要使自己的思想合于客观外界的规律性，如果不合，就会在实践中失败。”总结我们思政课教学的实践，可以发现，那些成功了的，都是符合这些“相统一”要求的；那些效果不好的，都是发生了这样或那样的片面性，偏离了“相统一”要求的。深入学习、贯彻八个“相统一”的思想，使我们的教学活动符合思政课教学的规律，才能把思政课“讲深讲透讲活”。

IV. Exploring the Laws of the Growth of Ideological and Political Theory Course Teachers

四、探求思政课教师成长的规律

The key to running ideological and political theory courses well lies in the teachers. The laws of teacher growth are part of the laws of constructing ideological and political theory courses. To cultivate and build a high-level team of ideological and political theory course teachers in the New Era, it is necessary to explore and consciously follow the laws of the growth of ideological and political theory course teachers.

办好思政课的关键在教师。教师成长规律是思政课建设规律的一部分。培养造就新时代高水平思政课教师队伍，要探求并自觉遵循思政课教师成长的规律。

First, being politically strong, having deep feelings, having innovative thinking, having broad vision, being strict in self-discipline, and having upright character are the goals for the growth of ideological and political theory course teachers. The growth of ideological and political theory course teachers must have clear goals. The particularity of ideological and political theory course teaching places high demands on the comprehensive quality of ideological and political theory course teachers. Xi Jinping summarized the experience of our country’s teacher team construction, generalizing the qualities that ideological and political theory course teachers should possess into six aspects, and elaborated on them in depth, establishing goals for the growth of ideological and political theory course teachers and also pointing the direction for the construction of the ideological and political theory course teacher team.

第一，政治要强、情怀要深、思维要新、视野要广、自律要严、人格要正是思政课教师成长的目标。思政课教师的成长，必须有明确的目标。思政课教学的特殊性决定了对思政课教师的综合素质有很高的要求。习近平总结我国教师队伍建设的经验，把思政课教师应有的素养概括为六个方面，并进行了深入阐述，为思政课教师成长确立了目标，也为思政课教师队伍建设指明了方向。

First, “being politically strong”: ideological and political theory course teachers must have faith in Marxism and belief in socialism and communism, be good at seeing problems from a political perspective, and maintain political sobriety on major issues of principle. Second, “having deep feelings”: ideological and political theory course teachers must have feelings for the family and the country, genuine emotions for the nation and the people, for the cause of Marxist theoretical education, and for students. Third, “having innovative thinking”: ideological and political theory course teachers must learn dialectical materialism and historical materialism, be good at using innovative thinking and dialectical thinking to analyze contradictions, elucidate laws, and guide students. Fourth, “having broad vision”: ideological and political theory course teachers must have extensive knowledge of philosophy, social sciences, and natural sciences, a broad international perspective, and a profound historical perspective. Fifth, “being strict in self-discipline”: ideological and political theory course teachers must strictly demand of themselves, abide by teaching discipline, political discipline, and political rules. Sixth, “having upright character”: ideological and political theory course teachers must have an upright and noble character, be role models in learning and conduct, and use the power of their character to influence students.

一是“政治要强”，思政课教师要有对马克思主义的信仰、对社会主义和共产主义的信念，善于从政治上看问题，在大是大非面前保持政治清醒。二是“情怀要深”，思政课教师要有家国情怀，对国家和民族、对马克思主义理论教育事业、对学生有真情实感。三是“思维要新”，思政课教师要学会辩证唯物主义和历史唯物主义，善于运用创新思维、辩证思维，分析矛盾，阐明规律，引导学生。四是“视野要广”，思政课教师要有广泛的哲学社会科学和自然科学知识，宽广的国际视野和深远的历史视野。五是“自律要严”，思政课教师要严格要求自己，遵守教学纪律、政治纪律和政治规矩。六是“人格要正”，思政课教师要有堂堂正正的、高尚的人格，做为学为人的表率，用人格的力量感染学生。

The six “musts” are interconnected, constituting the comprehensive quality that ideological and political theory course teachers should possess. Only by establishing growth goals and clarifying the direction of growth can we follow the laws of the growth of ideological and political theory course teachers and build a good team of ideological and political theory course teachers.

六个方面的“要”相互联系，构成思政课教师应有的综合素养。确立成长的目标，明确了成长方向，才能遵循思政课教师成长规律，建设好思政课教师队伍。

Second, learning Marxism well is the key to the growth of ideological and political theory course teachers. Improving the quality of ideological and political theory course teachers requires attention to comprehensiveness and integration, but also grasping the key of learning the “Marxist fundamental skill” for growth.

第二，学好马克思主义是思政课教师成长的关键。提高思政课教师素养，既要注意全面性、综合性，又要抓住学会“马克思主义看家本领”这一成长的关键。

“Truly mastering the Marxist fundamental skill” is an important thought explicitly proposed and repeatedly emphasized by Xi Jinping. Xi Jinping proposed: “First, we must seriously study Marxist theory; this is our fundamental skill for doing all work well.” This is a requirement for Party members and leading cadres, and it is also applicable to ideological and political theory course teachers. Marxism is the fundamental skill for the Communist Party of China to achieve success, and it is also the fundamental skill for Party cadres at all levels and ideological and political theory course teachers to do all work well. “Fundamental skill” refers to the skill that plays a decisive role among various skills, determining and influencing the formation and exertion of other skills, and determining the success or failure of all work. The formation and improvement of all aspects of the quality of ideological and political theory course teachers are inseparable from the guidance of a correct worldview and methodology. Only Marxism is a scientific worldview and methodology, so learning Marxism well is the key to the growth of ideological and political theory course teachers.

“真正把马克思主义看家本领学到手”，是习近平明确提出并反复强调的一个重要思想。习近平提出：“首先要认真学习马克思主义理论，这是我们做好一切工作的看家本领”。这是对党员领导干部的要求，对思政课教师也是适用的。马克思主义是中国共产党取得成功的看家本领，也是党的各级领导干部和思政课教师做好一切工作的看家本领。“看家本领”，就是在各种本领中起决定性作用的本领，决定和影响着其他本领的形成和发挥，决定着一切工作的成败。思政课教师各方面素养的形成和提高，都离不开正确世界观和方法论的指导，只有马克思主义才是科学的世界观和方法论，所以学好马克思主义是思政课教师成长的关键所在。

How can one master the Marxist fundamental skill? Xi Jinping has put forward a series of important expositions that provide us with guidance. Xi Jinping pointed out that one should read original works, study the original text, and comprehend the principles. “One should make reading Marxist classics and comprehending Marxist principles a habit in life and a spiritual pursuit.” This is because “Marxist classic works are the source of Marxist theory”; reading classics is necessary to “comprehensively and accurately understand Marxism from the source and systematically master the scientific truth of Marxism.” For ideological and political theory course teachers, while secondary materials can be auxiliary and inspiring, studying original works is the fundamental learning path.

怎样才能把马克思主义看家本领学到手？习近平提出了一系列重要论述，为我们提供了指南。习近平指出，要读原著、学原文、悟原理。“要把读马克思主义经典、悟马克思主义原理当作一种生活习惯、当作一种精神追求”。这是因为，“马克思主义经典著作是马克思主义理论的本源”，读经典才能“从源头上完整准确地理解马克思主义，系统掌握马克思主义科学真理”。对思政课教师来说，二手材料虽然有辅助、启发作用，但是研读原著才是根本的学习途径。

Xi Jinping pointed out that learning Marxism “first requires solving the problem of true understanding and true belief,” “the core is to solve the problem of ‘for whom,’” and “ultimately it must be implemented in how to use it.” Why is the “core” “solving the problem of ‘for whom’”? This is determined by the nature of Marxism and the purpose of our learning. Marxism is the theory of the people; standing on the people’s standpoint is a prerequisite for understanding Marxism, and enhancing the ability to serve the people is the purpose of learning. If one does not solve the problem of “for whom” and departs from the people’s standpoint, merely treating Marxism as a kind of “knowledge” to understand, one cannot learn Marxism thoroughly or use it. For ideological and political theory course teachers to achieve true understanding and true belief and to apply Marxism in teaching, they must grasp this “core” of “for whom.”

习近平指出，学习马克思主义“首先要解决真懂真信的问题”，“核心要解决好为什么人的问题”，“最终要落实到怎么用上来”。为什么“核心”是“解决好为什么人的问题”？这是由马克思主义的性质和我们学习的目的决定的。马克思主义是人民的理论，站在人民立场是读懂马克思主义的前提，增强为人民服务的本领是学习的目的。不解决好“为什么人”的问题，离开了人民立场，仅仅把马克思主义当作一种“学问”去了解，就学不懂、也用不了马克思主义。思政课教师要达到真懂真信并且在教学中运用马克思主义，就必须抓住“为什么人”这个“核心”。

Xi Jinping has repeatedly quoted Mao Zedong’s exposition to emphasize that one must learn Marxism “systematically, not fragmentarily; practically, not abstractly.” [21]21 Mao Zedong, “Rectify the Party’s Style of Work” (1942), in which he criticized subjectivism and called for a systematic and practical approach to studying Marxism. Ideological and political theory course teachers learning Marxism must make great efforts and work hard to master the true essence and achieve thorough integration, and cannot stop at superficial understanding or a cursory glance. Only through “systematic, not fragmentary” learning, achieving systematic and theoretical understanding, can it be effectively applied in teaching. Fragmentary learning cannot lead to true understanding, nor will it lead to application; it is very likely to be misapplied.

习近平多次引用毛泽东的论述强调指出，要“系统地而不是零碎地、实际地而不是空洞地”学会马克思主义。思政课教师学习马克思主义，必须下大气力、下苦功夫掌握真谛、融会贯通，不能浅尝辄止、蜻蜓点水。只有通过“系统地而不是零碎地”学习，达到体系化、学理化的理解，才能有效地运用于教学中。零碎地学习不能真懂，也就不会运用，很可能一用就错。

Xi Jinping pointed out: “To uphold Marxism, the most important thing is to uphold the basic principles of Marxism and the standpoints, viewpoints, and methods that run through them. This is the essence and living soul of Marxism.” Ideological and political theory course teachers learning Marxism should seek standpoints, viewpoints, and methods from Marxist classic works, learn the Marxist worldview and methodology, use them to analyze and solve problems in teaching, and answer students’ questions, rather than only looking for individual phrases or ready-made conclusions to teach students.

习近平指出：“坚持马克思主义，最重要的是坚持马克思主义基本原理和贯穿其中的立场、观点、方法。这是马克思主义的精髓和活的灵魂。”思政课教师学习马克思主义，要从马克思主义经典著作中找立场、找观点、找方法，学习马克思主义的世界观和方法论，自己运用其来分析和解决教学中的问题，回答学生的提问，不能只去寻找个别词句、现成结论教给学生。

Xi Jinping emphasized that ideological and political theory course teachers should “be models in learning and practicing Marxism.” Grasping the key of learning and practicing Marxism and mastering the fundamental skill are necessary to comprehensively improve overall quality and meet the requirements of the six “musts.” This is an important law of the growth of ideological and political theory course teachers.

习近平强调，思政课教师要“做学习和实践马克思主义的典范”。抓住学习和实践马克思主义这个关键，掌握看家本领，才能全面提高综合素质，达到六个“要”的要求，这是思政课教师成长的重要规律。

Third, unifying book reading and study, teaching practice, and scientific research is a law of the growth of ideological and political theory course teachers. Book reading and study, teaching practice, and scientific research are the most important daily activities of ideological and political theory course teachers, and also the main content of their professional careers. Teaching is the central work of teachers. Book reading and study, and scientific research are also indispensable. Teaching and book reading and study, teaching and scientific research, each constitute a contradictory relationship; if handled poorly, they can affect each other. In the allocation of limited time and energy, they can constrain each other, attending to one thing and losing sight of another. But the two sides of the contradiction are also mutually dependent and mutually promoting. Only by regularly reading, engaging in lifelong learning, paying attention to theoretical development, and conducting research can one continuously improve oneself and promote teaching. Teaching practice can in turn provide motivation and resources for book reading and study and scientific research. Emphasizing scientific research while neglecting teaching, or only teaching without doing research, are both one-sided. The key to handling the contradictory relationship among them lies in the fact that the content of ideological and political theory course teachers' book reading and study and the topics of their scientific research should not be disconnected from the teaching tasks they undertake; rather, the three should be focused together and exert force in the same direction. If the key points and difficulties in teaching are taken as the focus of reading, and then established as the topics of scientific research, after painstaking study and in-depth research, the learning insights and scientific research results are then applied to teaching, becoming highlights in teaching, then they can complement each other and advance side by side, benefiting students and also helping ideological and political theory course teachers grow into outstanding ideological and political theory course teachers and philosophy and social science research talents in the unity of work and study, theory and practice, teaching and scientific research.

第三，把读书学习、教学实践、科学研究统一起来，是思政课教师成长的一条规律。读书学习、教学实践和科学研究，是思政课教师最重要的日常活动，也是思政课教师职业生涯的主要内容。教学是教师的中心工作。读书学习、科学研究也不可缺少。教学与读书学习、教学与科学研究，都构成矛盾关系，处理得不好，会相互影响。在有限时间和精力的分配上，会互相制约，顾此失彼。但矛盾双方又是相互依赖和相互促进的。经常读书、终身学习，关注理论发展并开展研究，才能不断提高自己、推动教学。教学实践又可以为读书学习和科学研究提供动力和资源。重科研而轻教学，或只教学不做研究，都是片面的。处理好其中的矛盾关系，关键在于思政课教师读书学习的内容、科学研究的选题不能同自己所承担的教学任务脱节，而应该三者聚焦在一起，同向发力。如果把教学中的重点、难点当作读书的关注点，进而确立为科研的选题，经过刻苦学习、深入研究，再把学习心得和科研成果运用于教学之中，成为教学中的亮点，就可以相得益彰，齐头并进，既惠及学生，又有利于思政课教师在工作和学习、理论和实践、教学和科研的统一中成长为优秀的思政课教师和哲学社会科学研究人才。

From this perspective, establishing the goal of the six "musts" [22]22 The six "musts" (六个“要”) refer to the six requirements for ideological and political theory course teachers set by Xi Jinping at a 2019 symposium: political stance must be strong, grasping the key of "learning Marxist skills to the core" [23], and unifying book reading and study, teaching work, and scientific research are the laws of the growth of ideological and political theory course teachers.

由此看来，确立六个“要”的目标，抓住“把马克思主义看家本领学到手”的关键，把读书学习、教学工作、科学研究统一起来，是思政课教师成长的规律。

(Author's brief introduction: Tian Xinming, Researcher at the Research and Development Center for Higher Education Sciences, Ministry of Education)

（作者简介：田心铭，教育部高等学校科学研究发展中心研究员）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心