The effect of practice is to test practice.
The only criterion for testing truth
-Reflection on the standard of truth
(Note: This is China's latest philosophical thesis and the latest philosophical viewpoint. But this article has been published publicly, and it is not the first time on your website. I wonder if it can be published in your station. This paper and On the Three Elements of the Standard of Truth are both papers on the discussion of the standard of truth. Three elements of the standard of truth have also been published. I have 10. If this article is available, I will send other papers one after another. )
I. General introduction
Practice is the only criterion for testing truth. This is the conclusion determined by 1978 "Discussion on Truth Standard". The author thinks that this conclusion is a great progress and a theoretical leap compared with the theory of "subjective test" and "two whatevers", but its wording is inaccurate and unscientific. The truth standard of the late President Mao Zedong can only be social practice. The famous thesis "is the yardstick for testing truth" is earlier than the above-mentioned "conclusion" and has been circulated in China for decades. I think its written expression is also inaccurate and unscientific. The author believes that an accurate and scientific written statement is that "the effect of practice is the only criterion for testing practice and truth". The "effect of practice" mentioned by the author is the result achieved by practice that can promote the survival and development of human society, that is, the achievements and achievements achieved by practice. It is the result that the effect is good and the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The effect of practice is not only the only criterion for testing truth, but also the only criterion for testing practice. This assertion is a revision, perfection and development of "practice is the only criterion for testing truth". It goes further than the latter. This assertion is completely correct and objective truth. The author believes that we should reflect on the existing "truth standard".
Second, what is practice?
The author thinks that practice is the sum of all kinds of activities that social people (subjects) consciously act on the objective world (objects). All the conscious material activities of human beings belong to the category of practice, and the conscious transformation of nature and society is the most important practical activity. Activities that destroy nature and society are also practical activities. War of aggression, terrorist activities, massacres, illegal and criminal activities, deforestation, etc. All belong to the category of "practice". Practice is the link and bridge between subject and object. "Food is the most important thing for the people". The most basic practical activities are productive labor and material life practice. It is the foundation of the existence and development of human society. All other forms of human practical activities are produced and developed on the basis of productive labor and material life practice. In modern society and future society, educational practice, scientific experiment, productive labor and material life practice are the foundation and the most important practical activities of human society.
Practical activities are dual, with both positive and negative effects. Practice can be divided into correct practice (including basically correct practice), wrong practice, blind practice and experimental practice. Correct practice is a practice that conforms or basically conforms to objective reality and objective laws, and it is also a practice that promotes the survival and development of human society. Wrong practice can also be divided into general wrong practice, disastrous practice and reactionary practice. All wrong practices will hinder or destroy the survival and development of human society or local society, and even make human society or local society suffer disasters. Or it is not conducive to the survival and development of human society. Blind practice will also have a great negative effect and influence on the survival and development of human society or local society. Blind exercises often turn into wrong exercises. Blind practice may also gain more or less benefits. Some blind practices may become correct or basically correct. Experimental practice is an exploratory practical activity, in order to see the result of something or the performance of something. For example, planting experimental fields, flight test of new aircraft, etc. Experimental practice may succeed or fail. After success, it may be widely promoted. After failure, it may be improved in many aspects before experimental practice until it is successful or some experimental projects are abandoned. Experimental practice is of great significance to active exploration and cannot be ignored. We should have a clear and comprehensive understanding of "practice". In particular, we should never draw a clear line between "practice" and "correctness", which will have a negative impact on our correct understanding of "standard of truth". Whether practice is correct or not must be tested by objective "test standards" in order to judge right or wrong.
Third, what is understanding?
People's knowledge comes from practice and the objective world, and it is the reflection of the human brain on objective things. Cognition is divided into perceptual knowledge and rational knowledge. The rise of perceptual knowledge to rational knowledge is thought. Thought is the result of objective existence reflected in human consciousness through thinking activities. The content of thought is determined by people's material living conditions and the nature of social system. In a class society, thoughts are class-oriented. People's understanding of nature and society has become a theory. Theory is a systematic conclusion about the understanding of nature and society summarized by people through practice. Cognition, thinking and theory are all right and wrong. The author believes that wrong ideas or theories are not only harmful to the survival and development of human society or local society. It can be divided into three types: general error, disastrous and reactionary. Correct understanding, thought, theory and scientific knowledge are truth. Truth is the correct reflection of objective things and their laws in human consciousness. It is conducive to the survival and development of human society, that is, a correct understanding of objective reality and its laws will promote the survival and development of human society. Truth is objective, relative and absolute. Truth develops in practice. Ideas or theories can guide people's practical activities. Practice under the guidance of correct ideas or theories can achieve good results in promoting the survival and development of human society. On the contrary, practice will have adverse consequences or even bad consequences that hinder or destroy the survival and development of human society or local society, that is, it is not conducive to the survival and development of human society or local society.
Fourth, practice is not the criterion or the only criterion for testing truth.
The criterion or sole criterion for testing truth is to confirm that "knowledge, thought and theory" is the criterion or sole criterion for truth. If you want to know whether "cognition, thought and theory" is correct, then "cognition, thought and theory" must be tested in "practice, the result of practice and history"-the testing ground of truth. There is no doubt about it. The author holds that practice itself or the process, result and history of practice have the function of testing and proving truth, and constitute a testing ground for testing "cognition, thought, theory and truth". Practice itself or the process of practice is only a means, method, way and process to test and prove whether "knowledge, thought and theory" is truth, not to test "knowledge, thought, theory and truth". This is not the only criterion. Modern Chinese Dictionary says that "standard" is a criterion for measuring things, and "standard" can also be something that conforms to the criterion itself and can be compared with similar things. The author believes that "the function of testing and proving truth", "the means, methods, approaches and processes of testing and proving truth" and "the field of testing" should not be equated with "the standard or the only standard of testing truth", and we should not mistake the former for the latter. This is a key issue. If we lack a clear and correct understanding of this issue, we will go into a theoretical misunderstanding and leave regrets. Nor should we confuse "negative evidence" to prove that ideas and theories are not truth-the adverse consequences of practice-with "standards" or "sole standards" to test truth, let alone mistake the former for the latter. This is also an example.
If you want to know whether thoughts and theories (hereinafter, the words "thoughts and theories" can be used interchangeably) are true, you must first find out whether the practice under the guidance of this theory is correct, that is, whether it conforms to or basically conforms to objective reality and objective laws. First, it is "practice" itself, not theory, that is tested by "objective test standard". Only in this way can we judge whether practice itself is correct or basically correct. Any practice that has not been tested by the "objective test standard" cannot be used as the direct evidence or the first evidence to prove that the theory conforms to or basically conforms to the objective reality and its laws, that is, conforms to the standard of truth. Therefore, "practical activity" itself or "practical activity process" cannot be the "standard" or "the only standard" for testing truth. Practical activities are guided by theory. Practice under the guidance of wrong theory has become wrong practice or practice with serious problems. It is unreasonable and illogical to use wrong practice as the "standard" or "the only standard" to test whether the theory is correct. Some practices are obviously correct, and it seems that there is no need to pass the test of "actual effect". However, it is precisely because the effect of practice is too great and obvious that people judge that practice is correct. In fact, practice has gone through "practice"
Next, the author makes a simple argument with three examples: sports competition, entrance examination and final examination, and proves that "practical activity itself" or "practical activity process" is not "examination standard" or "only standard". Just test means, test methods, test approaches and test processes. All kinds of sports competitions are the practice of sports competitions. The competition process is only the only means, the only method, the only way and the only process to test whether the guiding ideology, strategy and tactics of the participating parties are correct, who wins and who loses, and ranks right or wrong. It cannot be the "standard" or "the only standard" to test whether the guiding ideology, strategy and tactics of the participating parties are correct, who wins and who loses, and ranks right or wrong. Only the excellent achievements that surpass the opponents in the competition have the most say, the most proof and the most convincing. Only it is the only criterion to test whether the guiding ideology, strategy and tactics of the winners are correct, and only it is the only criterion to test whether the winners win or lose and rank first or first. It is a natural phenomenon that a strong team defeats a weak team. It is not uncommon for a weak team to beat a strong team. The process of the competition may be wonderful, which makes people applaud and cheer, or it may not be wonderful, which makes people feel sorry for it. Although the game is accidental, it mainly depends on the result of the game, especially the performance. The performance of the game determines the outcome, and the excellent performance beyond the opponent is the only evidence of victory and the only test standard. Poor performance in the competition is only evidence of "being denied" and cannot be used as a test standard.
Entrance examination is the practice of entrance examination. As far as academic and intellectual development is concerned, the examination process is only the only means, method, way and process to test or prove whether students have completed their studies and are qualified for further studies, rather than the "standard" or "sole standard" to test whether candidates have completed their studies and are qualified for further studies. This is the only test standard. Candidates' excellent grades and qualified grades (scores above the admission score) are directly related to "being admitted", which is the only evidence to prove that candidates have completed their studies and are qualified for further study. It is the only criterion to test whether candidates have completed their studies and are eligible for further study. (Here, the author takes "admission criteria" as a criterion. Take the excellent and qualified test scores as the standard control check. However, the "examination activity" or "examination process" cannot be compared and checked with the "admission standard", so it cannot be the "standard" or "the only standard" to test whether candidates have completed their studies and have the qualifications for further study. This example is that practical activities cannot be used as "truth standard" or "test standard"
Students' final exams are exam exercises. In addition to the usual exams, oral exams and practical exams, the final exam itself or the exam process is only the only means, methods, ways and processes to test or prove students' academic performance in a semester, not the standard or the only standard to test students' academic performance. Under the condition of "100% system", 100% should be the only theoretical standard to evaluate and judge students' excellent academic performance. However, in test practice, 100% is rare, and most people can't get 100%. Therefore, people borrowed a measure close to 100% to measure students' academic performance. This test standard that can be used in practice is "excellent performance". It is the direct evidence and the only evidence to prove that the student has completed his studies and studied well. "Excellent grades" is the only criterion to test his academic performance. In the above three examples, it is incorrect to confuse the practice process and the practice result as the examination standard or the only standard, because the competition process and the examination process, that is, the practice process, cannot be used as the examination standard or the only standard. The results of practice may not meet the standards. The "test standard" mentioned in the three examples does not seem to be the standard for testing truth, but the standard for testing results. In my opinion, the standard of testing results should be attached to the category of "truth standard", that is, the effect of practice. It is to test and prove the truth of the theory with the achievements, grades and achievements obtained in practice. The above three examples belong to the category of sports practice and educational practice respectively. The author added another example. Treating diseases with medicine is a testing ground for medical practice and its results, and the only means, method, way and process to test the quality of medicine, that is, to confirm good medicine. It has the test of medicine, but it is not the standard or the only standard to test whether medicine is a good medicine. Because after taking the medicine, it will have a good medical effect, so that the condition will gradually improve or quickly improve or recover, and there may be cases where the disease cannot be cured or even has adverse consequences or consequences. Good medical effect is the only criterion to confirm that "this medicine" is a good medicine. "There is no good medical effect or obvious curative effect, but there are adverse consequences or consequences" is only strong evidence that this drug does not meet the "good drug standard", that is, negative evidence, which cannot be used as "good drug standard" or "the only standard of good drug". The "standard of good medicine" or "the only standard of good medicine" can only be a good medical effect, and there is no choice. To say the least, if what is mentioned above is also closely related to the question of "the standard of truth", their "reasoning" is the same. It is appropriate and appropriate to demonstrate the "standard of truth" with the above four examples, which has important reference value.
What's wrong with the verb "practice is the only criterion for testing truth"?
"The criterion of truth can only be social practice" and "Practice is the only criterion for testing truth" are wrong judgments and conclusions. There is no doubt about it. The error is as follows. First, the above-mentioned advocates of "judgment" and "conclusion" (hereinafter referred to as "advocates") lack in-depth thinking and analysis of the essence of "truth standard" and "practice". "Conforming to or basically conforming to objective reality and objective laws is its fundamental feature and standard. Blind practice, wrong practice and experimental practice can never be regarded as "the standard of truth". Because it does not conform to the criterion of truth standard, the primary requirement of truth standard is "must be correct" It is an obvious mistake to advocate "practice" including blind practice, wrong practice, experimental practice and correct practice as "truth standard" or "sole standard" It is advocated that practice should not be divided into correct practice, blind practice, wrong practice and experiment. " Practice "and" correctness "may be equivalent, and" practice "may be a pure compliment. Perhaps in the minds or eyes of advocates and the vast majority of China people, practice is a conscious activity of people to transform nature and society. It does not include activities other than "transforming nature and society". Perhaps "advocates" and people have other views on "practice". It is wrong to attribute all human practical activities to the conscious activities of transforming nature and society, because human practical activities also include activities of consciously destroying nature and society, and so on. It is also incorrect to regard correct practice as "the standard of truth" or "the only standard". Because practice is not the only criterion? Only after the objective test of "actual effect" can it be determined. When "practice" is verified as correct practice by "practical effect", the "theory" guiding practice is subsequently or simultaneously verified as truth by "practical effect", and "theory" no longer needs the test of "practice". Therefore, correct practice has no chance to test the "theory". The author thinks that "practice is the only criterion for testing truth" is understandable as perceptual knowledge, but inaccurate and unscientific as rational knowledge. Secondly, advocates do not distinguish between "practice" and "the result of practice", let alone divide "the result of practice" into good results and bad consequences. The key concept of "the effect of practice" is not put forward separately, and the effect of practice is not defined as the standard of truth. Instead, it confuses practice with the results of practice as the standard and the only standard of truth, that is, it puts forward the means, methods, ways, processes, inspection fields and inspection proofs of truth. Mistaking the former for the latter is the key mistake of advocates and their judgments and conclusions. It is the biggest mistake that advocates make not to regard the effect of practice as the standard and practice as the only criterion to test truth. It is also incorrect to regard the result of practice as the standard or the only standard of truth. It cannot be regarded as "the standard of truth" or "the only standard". In my opinion, "advocates" confuse proof theory with "standard" or "sole standard" for testing truth, and mistake the former for the latter. This is an obvious mistake. It seems that "practice" is regarded as "the standard of truth" or "the only standard"
The ideological root of the errors of the "advocate" and his "judgment" and "conclusion" lies in not knowing what can be regarded as the "truth standard" and what cannot be regarded as the "truth standard", and not realizing that "practice" itself or "the process of practical activities" must also be tested by the "objective test standard". In other words, we must accept the test of "the effect of practice". Mao Zedong's famous assertion that "the standard of truth can only be social practice" is consistent with his conclusion that "practice is the only standard for testing truth", and they are in the same strain. Their mistake is to regard "practice" as "the standard of truth", and their correctness is to pay special attention to practice, which is very valuable. The only difference between them is that there is no fundamental difference between "only" and "only". I think this has a lot to do with Mao Zedong's famous assertion that the standard of truth can only be social practice, which has an authoritative role and great influence on the discussion of the standard of truth. Under the historical conditions at that time, it is difficult to get rid of the authoritative role and great influence of Mao Zedong's famous thesis. There is no doubt about it.
Six, the effect of practice is the only criterion to test the truth of practice.
I believe that the "good results" and "bad consequences" of practice can prove whether "practice", "theory" and "truth" conform to or basically conform to objective reality and its laws from both positive and negative aspects. In other words, the "good results" and "bad consequences" of practice can prove whether the "theory" is established from both positive and negative aspects. Modern Chinese Dictionary says that "A can prove the authenticity of B" is the direct evidence that "practice", "theory" and "truth" do not conform to the objective reality and its laws, that is, they do not conform to the standard of truth, which is also called negative evidence. As the effect of practice is the only direct evidence to prove that "practice", "theory" and "truth" conform or basically conform to the objective reality and its laws, the author believes that the effect of practice can be used as the objective standard and the only standard to test whether "practice", "theory" and "truth" conform or basically conform to the objective reality and its laws. That is to say, the effect of practice is the only criterion to test practice and truth, because only the effect of practice can be used as the only evidence and the only "contrast check" to prove that "practice" and "theory and truth" conform to or basically conform to objective reality and objective laws.
People often make serious mistakes in understanding objective things and their laws. In many cases, they can't understand objective things and their laws and see their essence clearly. Therefore, people can't use objective reality and its laws to test whether "knowledge and theory" is true, but can only borrow things that meet the standards as a "comparative check" to test the truth. I think this "contrast check" is the effect of practice. Instead of practice, the effect of practice, as a good result of practice, as a result and achievement of the subject's transformation of the object, as a new objective fact, is the most convincing and most suitable for "comparative inspection." Facts speak plainer than words. It is the most direct, obvious and convincing evidence that "theory" is the truth. It has powerful testing power and the function of testing "practice" and theory at the same time. Because the effect of practice plays a positive role in promoting the survival and development of human society, the adverse consequences of practice outweigh the good results it has achieved, so it can be said that the adverse consequences of practice disprove the blindness or error of practical activities and do not meet the objective test standard-"truth standard", that is, they do not meet or basically do not meet the objective reality and its laws, and subsequently or simultaneously disprove the "theory" guiding practice is incorrect. Judgment is not truth, and the good result of practice outweighs the bad result, which proves that the practice conforms to or basically conforms to the objective reality and objective laws and is correct or basically correct, and then or at the same time proves that the "theory" guiding practice is truth. After the test of practical effect, it has been proved that the practice of China Cultural Revolution was a disastrous practice, and then or at the same time, it was proved that the theory guiding its practice did not conform to the "standard of truth" and was wrong. The author calls it a disaster. It has been disproved that the practice of genocide in Rwanda in 1994 and its guiding ideology are wrong, disastrous and reactionary, because Rwanda slaughtered 800,000 to/kloc-0,000 people in one hundred days, which almost caused genocide, and its consequences shocked the world. Facts have proved that any aggressive war and its guiding ideology are disastrous and reactionary, and aggressive wars are heinous and countless; What has been falsified is that the practice and guiding ideology of terrorist activities are disastrous, reactionary, anti-people and anti-humanity, because the practice and guiding ideology of terrorist activities have caused a group of innocent people (including women and children) to be attacked and fall in a pool of blood, causing people to suffer disasters, fall into extreme fear and destroy social order. It destroys the survival and development of human society or local society. The bad consequences and bad consequences of practice prove that a large number of practices and their guiding ideology do not conform to the standard of truth, and are wrong, disastrous or reactionary. The effect of practice proves that countless practices and their guiding ideology are correct, scientific or basically correct, and conform to or basically conform to objective reality and its laws, which proves that the guiding ideology of these practices is truth. The assertions that "the criterion of truth can only be social practice" and "practice is the only criterion for testing truth" are relative truths in a certain historical period, which are correct to some extent, but not completely correct. The conclusion that "the effect of practice is the only criterion for testing practice and truth" is more correct and scientific than the former. The former has become an outdated truth, while the latter is a revision, supplement and development of the former. We should replace the former with the latter. This is a fact.
Seven. conclusion
To sum up, the conclusion is that the effect of practice is the only direct evidence that "practice", "thought, theory and truth" conform to or basically conform to objective reality and objective laws; The effect of practice is the only criterion for testing practice and truth. The simplified written expression is "the effect of practice is the only criterion for testing truth". This is an eternal philosophical proposition and a universal philosophical principle.
"Practice", "thought, theory and truth" are inevitably and naturally tested by the means, methods, ways and processes of practice. "Practice", "thought, theory and truth" should be repeatedly tested by the practical effect and revised according to the changes of objective things or the objective world, which is judged as "truth" by the truth standard in history.
Emphasis should be placed on the positive role and influence of practice, that is, on the effect of practice. In the process of practical activities, we should constantly sum up experiences and lessons, find problems and mistakes as soon as possible, constantly revise ideas or theories guiding practice, correct mistakes in practice as soon as possible, reduce mistakes, try our best to eliminate negative effects, and don't sacrifice or damage long-term interests or major interests because of short-term interests and immediate interests. Avoid or eliminate blind practice and wrong practice, and strive to make practice bear more fruitful fruits, so as to promote the all-round, coordinated and harmonious development of people, countries and mankind, promote the healthy, sustained and rapid development of economy, and promote the harmonious development of mankind and nature. We must take "the effect of practice" as the only criterion to test practice and truth, and pay special attention to its objectivity, relativity and uniqueness.