Seminar on Friedrich Engels and Marxism held in Beihang University

To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Friedrich Engels, the Seminar on Friedrich Engels and Marxism: Commemorating the 200th Anniversary of Friedrich Engels' Birth hosted by the School of Marxism of Beihang University was held in Beijing on Nov 21. In attendance at the meeting were nearly 100 individuals including experts, scholars, teachers and students from colleges and universities, as well as journalists and media representatives.

The experts conducted in-depth discussions on the uniqueness of Engels' theory system and Engels' ideas in his later years, Engels' original contributions to Marxism, the textual research and contemporary value of Engels' thought, and dialectics of nature and Engels' scientific spirit.

Experts at the conference believed that Engels and Marx cofounded Marxism, and his name will always be engraved in the annals of Marxism. In his later years, Engels resolutely defended the scientificity and truthfulness of Marxism, and also upheld and developed Marxism under the new historical conditions. It was untenable to set Engels against Marx. Dialectics of Nature is a concentrated manifestation of Engels' scientific spirit, and it is Engels' major contribution to Marxist historical materialism. An in-depth study of the philosophical tradition of the dialectics of nature is important for understanding the inner relationship between science and technology and historical materialism and also for understanding new development concepts.

The experts also had in-depth discussions on how to deepen the methodological innovation of Engels' research, on how to advance the research of contemporary Chinese Marxism and Marxism in the 21st century.

Experts pointed out that the research on Marxism should be problem-oriented, not only from texts, but also through combining textual research with major topics of contemporary development and practical innovation. Only by making thoughts relevant can the great vitality and broad prospects of Marxism be revealed.