恩格斯晚年思想三题——关于历史唯物主义、俄国社会发展问题和1895年《导言》

Three Subjects of Engels' Thought in His Late Years——Studies on Historical Materialism, Social Development of Russia and the Preface of The Class Struggles in France 1848 to 1850

恩格斯晚年书信中关于历史唯物主义的论述,并非对"一元论"唯物史观的纠偏,而是对它在运用时的具体化。不宜将其理解为"经济因素首要论"。在俄国社会发展问题上,恩格斯理应是"跨越卡夫丁峡谷"说的另一倡导人,与马克思并无分歧。后来他的思想变化,是在历史条件已经改变了的情况下所作的反应,证明的恰好是他和马克思在思想方法上的一致和贯通。1895年的《导言》并非放弃革命立场而转向改良主义,而是采取了"革命立场上的改良"策略。今天,不应从《导言》去理解历史,而应从历史去理解《导言》。

Engels＇ statements about Historical Materialism in letters of his old age served as an elaboration on the application of Historical Materialism Monism rather than a correction of its deviation, therefore we should not interpret it as a ＂thought that only emphasis economic factors＂. In terms of argument about the social development of Russia, Engels worked as an advocate with the belief that Russia could keep away the ＂Caudine Forks＂ of Capitalism with a direct transition to socialist society, which was essentially continuous with Marx＇. Changes in Engels＇ later years that made according to historical conditions also constituted a unified system with Marx＇s thought. Engels＇ Preface of The Class Struggles in France 1848 to 1850 adopted a strategy of ＂reforming from a revolutionary standpoint＂ rather than totally abandon the previous standpoint for RefolTnism. Therefore, we should interpret The preface from historical facts instead of taking it merely as an reflection of historical changes.