Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No. 1, 2025

A Prerequisite Critique of the Concrete Totality—The Deep Structure and Scientific Characteristics of Marx’s Social Research Method

(Abstract)

Wang Shizhong

From abstract determinations to concrete-in-thought, Marx’s social research method has long been subject to misinterpretation, particularly by positivist and idealist perspectives. These misunderstandings arise because Marx’s social research findings are presented as a concrete totality, while the methodical process of transitioning from real concretes to abstract determinations is not simultaneously articulated. To address this, it is essential to distinguish the real concrete, abstract determinations, and the concrete totality, critically examining the premises, forms, and limitations of the concrete totality. This allows for the refinement and substantiation of the scientific characteristics of Marx’s methodology in social research. This method not only serves as a theoretical tool for deconstructing bourgeois society but also offers indispensable guidance for advancing Chinese-style modernization.