Journal of East China Normal University (Philosoph ›› 2014, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (6): 38-44.

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On the Social and Historical Bases of the Forming of the Middle Class Ideology

WANG Hao-bin   

  • Online:2014-11-15 Published:2014-12-11
  • Contact: WANG Hao-bin
  • About author:WANG Hao-bin

Abstract: It is important for the middle class, an important impetus for modern society transformation, to form its own class consciousness, that is, transforming from a “spontaneous class” to a “class for itself” in the Marxist sense. The middle class culture and ideology took into shape in public sphere such as English cafes, French salons and bistros, as well as the wide-spread publications along with the invention and popularization of printers, all of which constructed an arena that can challenge the feudal authorities. At the same time, the modern humanities and social sciences as the reflection of zeitgeist provided the richest soil and firmest foundation for middle class ideology. Under the impact of the middle class public sphere and Enlightenment, the middle class ideology finally formed and the middle class was transformed into a “class for itself” from a “spontaneous class”. Accordingly, the political revolution was ignited, which caused great transformation of modern social power structure.