Chapter 502 Mai Shinomiyai Annihilation Battle Six
How should we treat these difficulties? Faced with the various problems confronting us, how can we achieve true liberation? We have already seen that it is not enough to seek answers merely within our minds. To achieve true liberation, one must understand oneself through genuine interaction between people, examine one’s existence within the relationships between people, and explore and seek the paths and methods for self-liberation within this real-world interaction.
We must be guided by Marxist philosophical thought. Marx and Engels pointed out: [1] “The first premise of all human history is the existence of physical individuals and their material way of life, which conditions them. The premise is that they must have a life, must eat, drink, have shelter, and clothe themselves.” [2] “People must be able to ‘create history’ before they can ‘create history.’ But in order to live, they first need clothes, food, shelter, and other things. Therefore, the first historical act is to produce the means to satisfy these needs, that is, to produce material life itself.” [3] “History is nothing but the activity of persons pursuing their ends.” [4] “The first premise of all human history is the existence of individuals and their material way of life, which conditions them. The premise is that they must have a life, must eat, drink, have shelter, and clothe themselves. Therefore, the first historical act is to produce the means to satisfy these needs, that is, to produce material life itself. Therefore, the first premise of all human history is the actual intercourse of individuals. Therefore, when we recognize ourselves, we must place our existence within the complex, real intercourse between people, between humans and their surrounding environment, and between humans and society as a whole. We must understand the state of human existence and society by examining the real intercourse between people. Only in this way can we gain a correct understanding of people and society in reality, feel the true relationships between people, and thus achieve self-liberation, realizing equal and free intercourse between people.
To understand self-liberation from real intercourse is to examine the relationship between real intercourse and one’s existence within society, and to explore the paths and methods for people to achieve self-liberation in real intercourse. First, let us examine the main factors in real intercourse that influence self-liberation.
From real intercourse, we see that the environment in which a person lives is inseparable from their own existence. Humans are not only products of the environment, but the environment also influences their development and the state of their liberation. The environment in which a person is situated includes the natural environment, the social environment, and the inherited culture, customs, moral concepts, etc. These environments are interconnected and interact with each other, forming a complex, multi-layered, multi-faceted, three-dimensional interwoven relationship between society and the natural world that influences a person’s existence. To understand human existence and liberation, one should examine individuals within the intricate network of real intercourse.
From real intercourse, it can be seen that human existence is not singular and isolated, but is closely linked to the surrounding environment and the relationships between people. At the same time, human existence is also historical, real, and developing. To gain an understanding of self-liberation, one must inevitably examine it through the real intercourse between people. The intercourse between people influences and constrains each other and is constrained by the level of social development. Marxism believes that man himself is “the sum of all social relations,” and in the relationships between people, their existence is mutually constrained and influenced. When we examine a person’s existence and liberation, we must do so from the social relations between people and the level of social development.
Engels pointed out: [5] “The human intellect is measured by how man has learned to change nature.” [6] “After humanity has to a large extent separated itself from animals (in the narrower sense), it has increasingly and consciously created its own laws—social laws—outside the natural laws that have hitherto governed their lives. … Social laws are the product of the social intercourse of people hitherto.” The development of society continuously advances the overall level of social development. The higher the level of social development, the greater the influence on each individual in society. Social development inevitably affects the individual’s living conditions and state of liberation. Social development is constrained by various factors, including the natural environment, the humanistic environment, social intercourse, and the production of material wealth. The more fully society develops, the more fully each person’s survival becomes. Human understanding of nature becomes more profound, and humans are less bound, thus gaining greater freedom and achieving fuller and more profound self-liberation.
In real intercourse, it can be clearly seen that for an individual to achieve self-liberation, they must break through their own constraints and limitations. From the perspective of an isolated individual, their own constraints are closely related to the social relations they are in. The social relations of an individual are influenced by various factors such as the natural environment, the social environment, the level of social development, culture, customs, morality, law, etc., and are in a very complex, interconnected social network. Therefore, to achieve self-liberation, one must examine one’s own situation from social relations and find paths and methods to change one’s own state of existence through real intercourse.
From real intercourse, it can be seen that to achieve self-liberation, one must first change one’s understanding of one’s own existence. Human existence is not abstract but concrete. It is determined in real intercourse based on social relations. With the development of society, human agency also develops. Engels pointed out: [7] “It is man who creates the environment, and not the environment that creates man.” Individual liberation must be achieved through self-change, and even more so through social development to change one’s own situation. The improvement of one’s own capabilities, the deepening of one’s understanding of society, and the deepening of one’s understanding of the relationship between oneself, nature, and society. Understanding real intercourse and grasping social laws will allow individuals to gain greater freedom in social intercourse, thus promoting self-liberation.
Only from real intercourse can it be understood that the relationship between people and social development are the main factors that constrain self-liberation. The development of social relations is constrained by social productive forces. In societies with low levels of productive forces, the degree of individual liberation is lower, while in societies with high levels of productive forces, the degree of individual liberation is higher. The development of social productive forces provides a broad stage for the liberation of individuality and the material basis for the full development of individuality.
When examining self-liberation in real intercourse, one should examine people, who are the subjects of social historical development, and their existence in reality and the mutual constraints between people in real intercourse. Only by seeing that social development is based on the intercourse between people can one correctly understand the dialectical law of social development and self-liberation. The development in the mutual relationships between people in real intercourse drives the entire society forward. The real intercourse between people promotes social progress.
We live in a complex, interconnected society. The social network determines the state of existence of each individual and also constrains the degree of liberation of each individual. In real social intercourse, one can see that the interrelationships of the social network determine the state of existence of each individual. Only by changing the “unequal” relationships that exist in social intercourse can people achieve true liberation.
Marxist philosophy holds that: [8] “Man is the sum of all social relations.” Without examining the relationships between people, abstractly examining an individual’s self-liberation is meaningless. In real intercourse, the constraints on self-liberation can be seen as a “force.” This “force” is formed by social relations, which constitute a solid social network that constrains the degree of liberation of each individual. The greater the “force,” the tighter the constraint on oneself. When the social network formed by “force” reaches a limit of constraint on each individual, social change is inevitable. At this time, society, under its own constraints, generates a new “resistive force” that disintegrates the original social network.
From real intercourse, we see that the greatest constraint on self-liberation is the “unequal” intercourse between people. In unequal social intercourse, one’s own agency is difficult to fully exercise and is suppressed by the immense “force” generated by the “unequal” social network. One’s own existence is greatly oppressed. To achieve self-liberation, one must eliminate “unequal” social intercourse and change the “unequal” relationships in social intercourse. To achieve true liberation, one must realize equal and free intercourse between people.
To understand self-liberation from real intercourse, one must use Marxist dialectical materialism to examine the paths to self-liberation. These paths form a “resistive force” within the social intercourse of self-liberation, which is generated within one’s own social intercourse. This constant “resistive force” seeking self-liberation drives the entire society forward.
The self-liberation we hope for is achievable in real social intercourse. This liberation is relative and is constrained by the level of social development. In real intercourse, the “force” that constrains self-liberation is the influence of the social network on oneself. The more complex the social intercourse, the greater the influence on oneself. To achieve self-liberation, one must change one’s position in social intercourse.
Marxist philosophy believes that this change is not abstract but is realized through the struggle to change one’s “unequal” position in real social intercourse, based on the development of social productive forces. Only by realizing that self-liberation is based on real social intercourse and is constrained by social intercourse can one gain an understanding of human self-liberation.
From real intercourse, we see that the level of social development constrains the degree of self-liberation. The development of social productive forces provides help and support for the material wealth needed for self-liberation and for improving human cognitive abilities. The faster society develops, the more fully individuals are liberated. To achieve self-liberation, one must develop social productive forces and raise the level of social development. One must raise the cognitive level of each person in society.
The realization of self-liberation is constrained by the social environment. Only by breaking through the constraints of the social environment on self-liberation can one achieve self-liberation. The constraints of the social environment on self-liberation are based on unequal social relations. To break through constraints, one must change social relations through real intercourse between people. The change in social relations promotes intercourse between people. In intercourse, one must continuously eliminate inequality between people, eliminate social ills, and eliminate the constraints on oneself in social relations. Only through equal intercourse between people can self-liberation be achieved.
The self-liberation we hope for is equal and free intercourse between people, which is based on a higher level of social productive forces. In real intercourse, one must recognize that social systems, culture, customs, morality, and law, in various aspects, constrain self-liberation. To achieve complete liberation, these systems must be reformed.
In real intercourse, we understand that self-liberation is realized in social intercourse and is constrained by the level of social development. Through reforming social systems in real intercourse, self-liberation is promoted.
First, let us understand the systemic factors that influence self-liberation in the process of self-liberation.
To achieve self-liberation, one must first break through the constraints of the hierarchical system on oneself. In slave society, the master-slave relationship was a form of intercourse based on inequality. The existence of this relationship greatly constrained the self-liberation of slaves. Slave owners owned slaves and became their masters. Slaves became speaking livestock, subjected to immense oppression. Engels pointed out: [9] “All civilized epochs are characterized by general exploitation by a minority exploiting class of all other people.”
What we speak of today, self-liberation, first requires breaking down the hierarchical system in society and the social relationship of “people above people, people below people.” In real intercourse, self-liberation must begin with equal intercourse between people.
In real social intercourse, the systemic factor that constrains self-liberation is a form of systemic violence. This violence is a social relationship established under a hierarchical system, a constraint and oppression on oneself formed by the social network. To achieve self-liberation, this systemic violence must be shattered.
In real intercourse, the second systemic factor that constrains self-liberation is the constraint of the private property system on oneself. In a private property society, the private property system becomes a systemic force that greatly constrains self-liberation. In a private property society, the relationships between people are based on mutual exploitation and appropriation, making true equal intercourse between people difficult. To achieve complete self-liberation, the private property system must be changed.
Marx and Engels pointed out: [10] “Of all the aspects of alienation embodied in private property, money is the greatest, most universal, and most dominant aspect.” [11] “Money is the most powerful tool people use to subdue others.” [12] “The social relations of money and private property are enslaving forces that bind individuals to themselves.”
To achieve self-liberation, one must break through the constraints of the private property system on oneself and realize one’s true liberation.
In real intercourse, the third systemic factor that constrains self-liberation is the social network established by the private property system, which constrains oneself. In a private property society, the social network constructed by the private property system imposes great constraints on oneself, making it difficult for individuals to achieve self-liberation within this social network.
Marx and Engels pointed out: [13] “They will not be destroyed without a struggle.” “The union of these individual interests forms the class of society. The class struggle in these social relations is a systemic factor that constrains self-liberation in real social intercourse. Only through struggle can self-liberation be achieved.”
In real intercourse, factors that constrain self-liberation also include the influence of religion on oneself, as well as the influence of traditional culture and customs. To achieve complete self-liberation, one must break through the constraints of religion, traditional culture, and customs.
Marx and Engels pointed out: [14] “Religion is a distorted worldview.” [15] “Religion is the opium of the masses.” Religion is essentially a form of enslavement of oneself. Only by breaking through the constraints of the secular world on oneself can one break through the constraints of religion on oneself.
In real intercourse, there are many other factors that we have observed to constrain self-liberation. In general, self-liberation is realized through the development of society in intercourse and the transformation of oneself in intercourse.
From real intercourse, it is recognized that self-liberation is not an abstract proposition, but is realized in real social intercourse. This liberation is relative, and the degree of liberation is constrained by the level of social intercourse.
Marx and Engels pointed out: [16] “All liberation reduces the human world and human relationships to man himself.” “Only in the real world, and by means of the real world, can true liberation be achieved.”
Self-liberation is a process of continuous realization in social intercourse, a process of continuous transformation in society, where individuals move from being constrained to achieving liberation. This is a gradual process, and complete liberation cannot be achieved all at once.
The ultimate realization of self-liberation is a continuous process of breaking through one’s own constraints, based on continuous transformation of social relations. This liberation is free and equal intercourse between people.
Therefore, we should explore and seek the paths and methods for self-liberation in intercourse between people.
From real intercourse, it should be recognized that self-liberation is a “resistive” force, which arises from the “inequality” and “constraints” that individuals suffer in society. This “resistive” force constantly drives individuals to seek their own liberation.
Marx and Engels pointed out: [17] “The proletariat cannot achieve emancipation without realizing its own emancipation in its struggle against the bourgeoisie.” It is thus clear that self-liberation must take place through struggle in real social intercourse, continuously dismantling the constraints on oneself within the social intercourse network. Only through struggle between people can true self-liberation be achieved. In real intercourse, this “resistive” force is the only path to achieving self-liberation. This “resistive” force drives social transformation and social development.
The struggle for self-liberation we desire is based on the relationships that arise between people. This struggle is generated by the “resistive force” emanating from oneself. In real intercourse, this “resistive force” is the only path to achieving self-liberation. It drives oneself to continuously seek self-liberation. The self-liberation we hope for is based on the further improvement of social productive forces, realizing equal and free intercourse between people.
Marx and Engels pointed out: [18] “The free development of each person is the condition for the free development of all.” In real intercourse, we should see that only by achieving complete self-liberation can equal and free intercourse between people be realized. Self-liberation is the inevitable direction of social development. Self-liberation is the awakening of humanity itself. We must recognize from real intercourse that self-liberation is based on human struggle, and this liberation is the inevitable trend of social development. From real intercourse, we should see that self-liberation is driven by the “force” of human self-liberation. This “force” is realized through the continuous expansion of free and equal intercourse between people.
Self-liberation is not merely an abstract proposition, but a process of continuous realization in real social intercourse. This liberation is relative and is constrained by the level of social intercourse. Only by expanding free and equal intercourse between people can self-liberation be achieved.
Marx and Engels pointed out: [19] “In a true community, each individual attains freedom in and through his intercourse.” This is also the self-liberation we pursue. In real intercourse, we should recognize that self-liberation is realized through the continuous interaction between individuals and society. This is not only a self-awakening of individuals but also an inevitable trend of social development.
Marx and Engels pointed out: [20] “This intercourse aims at the comprehensive and full development and unfolding of men’s activities, which is not only the free intercourse of man with man but also the free intercourse of man with nature.” Self-liberation is a process of continuous improvement in social intercourse. Only by continuously improving the level of social intercourse can self-liberation be achieved.
Self-liberation is based on free and equal intercourse between people. This is the essence of self-liberation. In real intercourse, we should recognize that self-liberation is not only about individuals gaining freedom and equality in intercourse but also about the mutual unification of individual and social development. To achieve self-liberation, one must recognize that this liberation is an inevitable trend, driven by social intercourse.
Marx and Engels pointed out: [21] “Communist society, in its development, takes itself, as the inevitable step, as its goal of future development.” Self-liberation is an inevitable trend of social development. We should start from real intercourse and recognize self-liberation. Self-liberation is free and equal intercourse between people. Self-liberation is the most spectacular scene in human history. Self-liberation is the inevitable orientation of social relations.
Marx and Engels pointed out: [22] “The free development of each is the condition for the free development of all.” The realization of self-liberation is the continuous transformation of intercourse relationships formed by humanity itself. Self-liberation is the continuous realization of individuals and society in intercourse.
Self-liberation is free and equal intercourse between people. Self-liberation is the result of human awakening. Self-liberation is based on the continuous transformation of social relations in which individuals are situated. Self-liberation is free and equal intercourse between people.
Marx and Engels pointed out: [23] “Communism for us is not an ideal to which reality ought to adapt itself, not an ideal goal. What we call communism is the real movement which abolishes the present state of things. The conditions of this movement arise from the premises now extant.” Self-liberation is the goal we pursue. Self-liberation is based on the continuous development of social productive forces and the realization of free and equal intercourse between people. Self-liberation is based on the continuous transformation of social relations between people.
Marx and Engels pointed out: [24] “The mode of production in material life determines the social, political, and intellectual processes of life in general.” “The mode of production of human beings determines the nature of social intercourse.” Self-liberation is based on the continuous transformation of social systems.
We should start from real intercourse and recognize self-liberation. Self-liberation is free and equal intercourse between people. Self-liberation is the inevitable trend of social development. Self-liberation is a process of continuous realization in the intercourse between individuals and society.
Marx and Engels pointed out: [25] “All liberation reduces the human world and human relationships to man himself.” [26] “In a true community, each individual attains freedom in and through his intercourse.” Self-liberation is not merely an abstract theory but a process of continuous realization in social intercourse.
Self-liberation is based on the “resistive” force of the individual. This “resistive” force drives social transformation and self-liberation. Self-liberation is the conscious self-liberation of humanity.
Marx and Engels pointed out: [27] “For the materialist, i.e., for the Communist, the whole question is the revolutionization of the existing world, the practical protest and work against the existing conditions.” Self-liberation requires struggle between people. Self-liberation is a process of continuous realization within the intercourse between individuals and society.
Marx and Engels pointed out: [28] “As long as exploitation and inequality exist, struggle will continue.” Self-liberation is the realization of free and equal intercourse between people. Therefore, the self-liberation we pursue is based on free and equal intercourse between people.
Self-liberation is the inevitable trend of social development. Self-liberation is the awakening of oneself.
Marx and Engels pointed out: [29] “The liberation of the individual is based on the development of social productive forces.” Self-liberation is a historical process. Self-liberation is based on free and equal intercourse between people. Self-liberation is the only path to human self-liberation.
Marx and Engels pointed out: [30] “Only by eliminating the suffering caused by class struggle can freedom and equality in social intercourse be realized.” Self-liberation is the most spectacular and noteworthy scene in human history. Only by realizing self-liberation can free and equal intercourse between people be realized. Self-liberation is the inevitable trend of social development. Self-liberation is the result of human awakening. Self-liberation is a process of continuous realization in the intercourse between individuals and society.
We should start from real intercourse and recognize self-liberation. Self-liberation is free and equal intercourse between people.
Marx and Engels pointed out: [31] “Only in a true human community can individuals achieve freedom.” Self-liberation is the inevitable trend of social development. Self-liberation is based on free and equal intercourse between people. Self-liberation is the only path to human self-liberation. Self-liberation is an inevitable trend of social development, this trend being free and equal intercourse between people.
Self-liberation is free and equal intercourse between people.
