Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No. 1, 2026

The Practical Principle of Historical Materialism Research Methods

(Abstract)

Cao Dianshun

The research methods of historical materialism are permeated by a practical principle, which is embodied in the “scientific research objectives” associated with reflecting on, critiquing, and transforming the realist capitalist path in the West. These “scientific research objectives” constitute a practical approach through which historical materialism advances toward “depth of practice” to “dismantle the myth of capitalism.” One of the landmark insights of the “realist” research method lies in clarifying the issue of human modes of labor in a concrete, reality-based sense. One of the major achievements of the “empirical” research method is its demonstration of the issue of productive forces in an empirical sense. Meanwhile, one of the key innovations of the “practical” research method is the identification of the issue of relations of production in a practice-oriented sense.