Many people know this article that once influenced Chinese history, but they don’t know who the original author of this article is and how this article came out.
Guangming Daily was the first newspaper to publish this article at that time.
1. The author of this great article turned out to be from Wuxi ; he grew up from a child whose family was poor and could not afford to go to school to become a professor in the Department of Philosophy of Nanjing University.
On January 2, 2023, Hu Fuming, the main author of " practice is the only criterion for testing truth " and former professor of the Department of Philosophy of Nanjing University, died of illness.
Professor Hu Fuming
Hu Fuming was born in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province in July 1935 (June 19th according to the lunar calendar) from a poor family. When he was a child, his family only had 3 acres of farmland, and the family of 8 could not afford enough food, so they had to plant another 1 and a half acres of rented land from the landlord. During the period of the Anti-Japanese War, the family was often out of work. I read books when I was a child, and I couldn’t even afford a kerosene lamp at night.
barely made it to the second grade of junior high school. His family could no longer afford the tuition fees, and he was about to drop out of school. At this time, a teacher said to him: "Your tuition fees will be deducted from my salary in the future." In this way, Hu Fuming can continue to study.
later learned that the teacher who helped him turned out to be an underground party member.
In early 1955, Hu Fuming graduated from Wuxi Normal University, joined the party, and was assigned to work at the Jiangsu Federation of Trade Union Cadres School.
One day, I received a notice from a country: young cadres with high school education are required to apply for college, because the country needs to cultivate talents for economic construction.
Hu Fuming was very excited and signed up to take the exam in Nanjing, and was admitted to Peking University .
Hu Mingfu graduated from the Journalism Major of the Chinese Department of Peking University
. In college, Hu Fuming not only listened to the Journalism Courses of the Chinese Department, but also used his spare time to actively participate in audits in the Philosophy Department, thus beginning his philosophical enlightenment.
Good things finally happen to those who work hard.
When Hu Fuming graduated from University, Peking University leaders recommended him to study in the Philosophy Research Class of Renmin University; after graduating from Renmin University, he was directly assigned to the Philosophy Department of Nanjing University.
2. "Practice is the Sole Criterion for Testing Truth" is certainly a product of the times, but why was it written by Hu Fuming in the first place? Sensitivity coupled with a sense of responsibility for the times!
On May 11, 1978, Hu Fuming and his wife were making lunch in the corridor of the Tongzi Building of the school when they suddenly heard the playback of "Practice is the Only Criterion for Testing Truth" written by him on the radio.
Hu Mingfu is a professor at the Department of Philosophy of Nanjing University
The excitement of the couple was overwhelming.
However, almost another year has passed since Hu Fuming wrote the first draft of this article.
Then why did Hu Mingfu write this article that was very "risky" at the time? Because that was the time when the two Fans were ruling the world and ultra-leftist thoughts were popular in society.
Hu Fuming later said in an interview: "China is facing a great turning point in history. Old theories and guiding ideologies need to be negated, and new theories and guiding ideologies must be released in time, so as to escort the construction of socialist modernization."
It was this kind of political sensitivity and high sense of social responsibility that made Hu Fuming start thinking about writing this great article!
This article is actually divided into three parts:
1. Practice is the standard for testing truth. It is a universal principle of Marxist epistemology. It is applicable in the fields of natural science, social science and other fields, as well as in lines, principles and policies. We must adhere to the principle that practice is the standard for testing truth.
2.Whether Marxism-Leninism is correct must be tested by practice. Only what is correct by practice can belong to the category of Marxism-Leninism.
3. Starting from the above theory, Hu Fuming vigorously criticized " genius theory " and "peak theory". In fact, he wanted to oppose the "two whatevers" of the ultra-left ideological trend at that time.
In July 1977, Nanjing University was on holiday, and Hu Fuming started writing this article.
After Professor Hu Fuming wrote his article of more than 8,000 words, he sent it to Guangming Daily.
But after the article was sent, it was like a stone falling into the sea. Hu Mingfu thought, this time it was over, maybe he would have to go in too.
waited anxiously until late January 1978, six months after the article was published, when he suddenly received a copy of "Practice is the Only Criterion for Testing Truth" from Guangming Daily. The letter said: "" "Practice is the only criterion for testing truth" What to say, we know, we need to use it, please make some changes."
Later, the article was revised many times, and the article was finally published in "Guangming Daily" on May 11, 1978!
Deng Xiaoping's inscription
Conclusion: "Practice is the only criterion for testing truth" was like a "Spring Thunder" exploding in the Chinese theoretical circles at that time. With the direct care and support of leading comrades such as Deng Xiaoping and Hu Yaobang, it opened the prelude to understanding and amplifying the idea across the country, thus profoundly affecting the historical process of China's modernization.
So looking back on this article today, let us miss Comrade Hu Fuming from Wuxi even more. Without him, there would be no article "Practice is the Only Criterion for Testing Truth". The course of China's history may have a different look.
