What is the difference between dialectical materialist epistemology and old materialist epistemology

Although dialectical materialism and old materialism both adhere to the reflection theory and believe that cognition is the reflection of the subject on the object, there is a qualitative difference between the two.

The old materialist epistemology, that is, the metaphysical materialist epistemology, regarded human cognition as a passive, passive reflection and acceptance of external objects. It has two serious defects: one is to depart from practice to examine the problem of cognition, so it does not understand the decisive role of practice in cognition; Second, they do not understand the dialectical nature of cognition, and they leave the dialectical method to examine the problem of cognition, and they cannot regard cognition as a process of continuous development, but think that cognition is completed at one time.

This intuitive passive-passive reflection theory is unfavorable.

The epistemology of dialectical materialism, while inheriting the rational premise of the reflection theory of the old materialism, has overcome its serious shortcomings. First of all, the epistemology of dialectical materialism introduces the perspective of practice into epistemology, scientifically stipulates the subject and object of cognition and their mutual relations, and believes that the relationship between subject and object is first of all a relationship between transformation and transformation, and on this basis, the relationship between them is reflected and reflected. Secondly, dialectical materialism applies dialectics to the theory of reflection and to the investigation of the development process of cognition, and scientifically reveals the multifaceted dialectical relations in the process of cognition.

Therefore, it comprehensively reveals the dialectical nature of the process of cognition, and regards cognition as a dynamic process of cognition full of contradictions from ignorance to knowledge, from shallow to profound.

This kind of reflection theory, which is characterized by the practical viewpoint and the dialectical viewpoint, not only refutes the idealistic transcendental theory and the agnostic skepticism, but also overcomes the defects of the old materialist intuitive reflection theory, establishes the dynamic revolutionary reflection theory based on the scientific practical view, and realizes the transformation in the history of human cognition.

1. Practicality: Dialectical materialist epistemology.

It is a practice-based theory of active and revolutionary reflection. Modern dialectical materialism introduces the scientific concept of practice into epistemology, and takes practice as the basis of all epistemology.

Old materialism.

Epistemology: It is intuitive, negative, and passive reflection theory. Leaving practice to investigate the problem of understanding, and not understanding the decisive role of practice in understanding.

2. Epistemic process: dialectical materialist epistemology puts dialectics.

Implement the reflection theory. It scientifically explains the dialectical process of the development of human cognition, and regards cognition as a dynamic process of cognition full of contradictions from ignorance to knowledge and from shallow to profound.

The old materialist epistemology departed from the dialectic to examine the problem of cognition, believing that cognition was done at one time and that cognition could not be regarded as a process of continuous development.

3. Initiative.

Dialectical materialism holds that the subject actively and actively reproduces the essence and laws of the object on the basis of the practice of transforming the object. The old materialist epistemology held that knowledge reflected a passive intuition of the objective world.

1. The difference in the concept of practice.

The reflection theory of the old materialism ignores the decisive role of practice in cognition, and regards cognition as a passive and intuitive reflection of the subject to the object.

The reflection theory of dialectical materialism introduces the scientific concept of practice into epistemology, pointing out that cognition is the active reflection of the subject to the object on the basis of practice. Emphasizing practice as an important source of understanding, a driving force for development, a fundamental purpose, and a means of testing.

2. Dialectical differences.

The reflection theory of the old materialism rejects the dialectical process of the development of knowledge, and holds that knowledge is like looking in a mirror.

The reflection theory of dialectical materialism applies materialist dialectics to epistemology, and scientifically explains the dialectical process of repeated and infinite development of cognition. It affirmed the active guiding role of correct understanding in revolutionary practice.