Journal of East China Normal University (Philosophy and Social Sciences) ›› 2021, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (4): 24-32.doi: 10.16382/j.cnki.1000-5579.2021.04.003

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On the Rationality of “New Dialectics” in the Interpretation of Das Kapital:A Critical Analysis of Arthur’s System Dialectics

Yong-jie CHEN, Xiao-ting TAN   

  • Online:2021-07-15 Published:2021-07-19

Abstract:

Dissatisfied with the dogmatic interpretation of Das Kapital, Christopher J. Arthur of the school of “New Dialectics” reconstructed the work from Hegel’s dialectics. Arthur creatively proposed the system dialectics, constructed the “dialectical necessity” with the form of value as the carrier, and clarified the formation process of the capitalist economic system under the transformation of the value form. To some extent, Arthur’s system dialectics can help us understand the inherent contradictions of capitalism and the role of value forms in the economic system. However, since he started from Hegel’s speculative reason, and only confined to discussing the generation and demise of value forms within capitalism, Arthur ignored the historical principles of negativity and criticism contained in Marx’s dialectics. Therefore, he cannot help but fall into the trap of interpreting dialectics in the form of abstraction.

Key words: Das Kapital, system dialectics, value form, historical