The Spirit of Workers Building Railways Turns into a System in the Mind of a Philosopher:Research on Marx's The Leading Article in No.179 of the K?lnische Zeitung
In July 1842,the Rheinische Zeitung serialized Karl Marx's first publicly published philosophical essay,"The Leading Article in No.179 of the Kölnische Zeitung",which clearly demonstrated his materialist philosophical perspective.However,this work has received minimal attention within contemporary academic discourse.The author has translated the original editions of both the Rheinische Zeitung and the Kölnische Zeitung,along with all reports and articles pertinent to the background of this essay.Utilizing an extensive array of contextual literature,the author conducts a comprehensive analysis of the essay from the vantage point of the philosophical conflicts of the period.Currently,the scholarly consensus posits that"No.179"inaugurated the polemic between the Rheinische Zeitung and the Kölnische Zeitung.Nevertheless,upon reviewing the original editions of both newspapers,the author discovers that the debate had commenced prior to the publication of this essay,having probably originated from an article entitled"Freedom of Protestant Teaching"published by Rheinische Zeitung editor Moses Hess on June 24,1842,in its No.175 issue.The editorial of the Kölnische Zeitung advocated the exclusion of the Young Hegelians from participation in the newspaper,thereby providing Marx with an opportunity to expound his nascent materialist philosophical viewpoint.Marx engaged himself with this topic,transitioning from discussions of philosophy and the press to the notion of philosophy being firmly grounded,to the universalization of philosophy,and subsequently returning to the press—all while maintaining a steadfast connection to"the times"and"reality."The author contends that Marx's article diverges from Hegel's concept of"constructing reality with the mind."Instead,Marx demands that philosophy be grounded in practical reality,establishing a philosophical system through the spirit of railway construction wielded by workers'hands.This is not merely a reflective musing but the incubation of a profound philosophical thinking.Railway construction epitomizes organized large-scale industrial development,markedly distinct from the labor of small-scale artisans."Railway construction"symbolizes the most advanced productive forces of the era,marking Marx's first reference to the spirit of laboring workers.Marx further explores the"essence of human society"and the"association of free individuals."This article represents the earliest traceable point of Marx's idea that"philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways;the point,however,is to change it."Additionally,it foreshadows his later concepts,including the 1844 proposition of"cultivating human's gifts in all directions,"the 1845 assertion that"Human nature is the sum of all social relations,"and the 1848 envisioning of a future social"association".Due to the Kölnische Zeitung editorial's misrepresentation of the relationship between religion and philosophy,No.179 subsequently provides an argument delineating the distinction between philosophy and religion.Marx emphasizes that"The philosophy,the wisdom of the world,has a greater right to concern itself with the realm of this world,with the state,than has the wisdom of the other world,religion."He asserts that religion ultimately pertains solely to the sensory world,constituting an illusion within the human mind,whereas humans exist within the tangible world.Consequently,the elevation of humanity must necessarily be grounded in reality.Finally,the author concurs with Marx's characterization of his own works during the Rheinische Zeitung period as"socialist literature,"advocating that Marx's own evaluation of the nature of his writings should serve as a foundation for studying the development of his thought.
The Leading Article in No.179 of the Kölnische ZeitungKarl MarxMarxist PhilosophyMaterialismPhilosophy and newspapers
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