Abstract

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Title:: Examining the Evolution and Modernity of the Idea of Labor fromthe Perspective of Economic Philosophy: An Analysis Based onChina’s Practice during the 40 Years since Its Reform and Opening up

Keywords:: idea of labor; reform and opening up; system of socialist market economy; economic philosophy; reflection on modernity

Abstract:: From the perspective of economic philosophy, the change of the idea of labor not only reflects thespecial track of the development of modernity in China, but also reveals the strength of the socialist systemwith Chinese characteristics. Examining the development of the idea of labor can provide us with an effectiveframe of theoretical reference for understanding China’s social and economic development in the future andthe tendency for change in the ideas of human nature and ethics in China. Practice in the past 40 years sinceChina’s inception of reform and opening up has shown that the evolution of the idea of labor is mainly reflectedin the following three dimensions. First, the extension of the concept of labor has been enlarged and its intensiondeepened. Second, establishment of market-oriented relations of labor renders ethics concerning labor morecomplex. Third, since the arrival of the new era, ensuring people the principal position has become part of thecore values of the idea of labor.